The Reading borough-wide Public Space Protection Order (PSPO)

The Borough Of Reading (Public Spaces Protection) Order

NO. 1 OF 2026

Antisocial Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014

Citation

This Order may be cited as The Borough of Reading (Public Spaces Protection) Order No. 1 of 2026 (“the Order”).

Commencement and Duration

This Order comes into force at 00:01 on 24^th March 2026 and will remain in force for a period of three years unless extended, varied, or discharged by the Council.

PART 1 – PRELIMINARY

Power to Make the Order

Reading Borough Council (“the Council”) makes this Order under sections 59 and 72 of the Antisocial Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 (“the Act”).

Statutory Tests

The Council is satisfied that:

• Activities carried out, or likely to be carried out, in public places within the Restricted Area have had, or are likely to have, a detrimental effect on the quality of life of those in the locality.
• The effect, or likely effect, of these activities:
• is, or is likely to be, of a persistent or continuing nature;
• is, or is likely to be, such as to make the activities unreasonable; and
• justifies the restrictions imposed by this Order.
• The prohibitions and requirements in this Order are reasonable to prevent the detrimental effect from continuing, occurring, or recurring.

PART 2 – INTERPRETATION

Definitions

In this Order:

• “Act” means the Antisocial Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.
• “Authorised Officer” means a Constable, Police Community Support Officer, Council Officer, or any person authorised by the Council for the purposes of this Order.
• “Begging” means approaching, following, or importuning another person for money or goods, being stationary and directly asking for money or goods, or positioned on the floor to invite the offer of money or goods, in a manner that is reasonably perceived to be aggressive, intimidating, obstructive, or causes harassment, alarm or distress, including persistent or repeated solicitation.
• “Council” means Reading Borough Council.
• “Public Place” means any place within the Restricted Area to which the public has access, with or without payment, by right or by permission.
• “Restricted Area” means the administrative area of Reading Borough Council, as shown on the plan attached to this Order.

PART 3 – RESTRICTED AREA

Area to Which This Order Applies

This Order applies to all Public Places within the Restricted Area.

PART 4 – PROHIBITIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

Begging

A person must not engage in Begging in any Public Place in a manner that is reasonably perceived to be aggressive, intimidating, or causes harassment, alarm or distress.

For the purposes of this Article, “Begging” has the meaning set out in Article 5.

A person does not commit an offence if they have a reasonable excuse.

Alcohol Related Antisocial Behaviour

A person must not fail to comply with a direction given by an Authorised Officer to:

• stop drinking alcohol; or
• surrender any open or closed container reasonably believed to contain alcohol.

An Authorised Officer may give such a direction where it is necessary to prevent nuisance or disorder.

This Article does not apply to premises or areas licensed under the Licensing Act 2003.

Dog Fouling

If a dog defecates on land to which this Order applies, the person in charge of the dog must remove the faeces immediately.

It is not a reasonable excuse to claim:

• unawareness of the defecation; or
• lack of appropriate means to remove the faeces.

A person in charge of a dog must carry appropriate means to pick up and dispose of dog faeces.  

A person must comply with a request from an Authorised Officer to produce such means.

A person does not commit an offence if they have a reasonable excuse or fall within the exemptions in Article 12.

Dog Control – Direction to Use a Lead

A person in charge of a dog must comply with a direction from an Authorised Officer to put and keep the dog on a lead.

A direction may be given only where reasonably necessary to prevent:

• nuisance;
• behaviour likely to cause annoyance or disturbance; or
• the worrying or disturbance of any animal or bird.

A person who has a dog in their possession shall be taken to be in charge of that dog unless some other person is in charge of the dog at that time.

Antisocial Use of EScooters and EBikes

A person must not ride or operate an electric scooter or electric bike in a Public Place in an antisocial manner.

For the purposes of this Article, “antisocial manner” means behaviour that is reckless, dangerous, or likely to cause harassment, alarm, or distress.

A person must dismount if required to do so by a Constable or Authorised Officer.

Nothing in this Article authorises the use of an escooter or ebike where such use is otherwise prohibited by law.

PART 5 – EXEMPTIONS

Exemptions

Nothing in Article 9 of this Order applies to a person who is:

• severely sight impaired or sight impaired under s77 of the Care Act 2014; or
• has a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010 and relies on an accredited assistance dog trained by a member of Assistance Dogs International, the International Guide Dog Federation, or another prescribed charity.

PART 6 – ENFORCEMENT AND PENALTIES

Offences

A person who fails, without reasonable excuse, to comply with a prohibition or requirement in this Order commits a criminal offence.

        A person guilty of an offence is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

Fixed Penalty Notices

An Authorised Officer may issue a Fixed Penalty Notice (“FPN”) to a person reasonably believed to have committed an offence under this Order.

The amount of the FPN is £100.

Payment of the FPN discharges liability to conviction.

PART 7 – EXECUTION

Signed by Executive Director for Communities and Adult Social Care Reading Borough Council and Lead Councillor for Environmental Services and Community Safety / Chair- Reading Community Safety Partnership
Dated: 16 March 2026