Draft Public Space Protection Order: Gas Canisters

Draft Public Space Protection Order: Gas Canisters

Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) were introduced to tackle nuisance behaviour that affects the quality of life for other people.

Including an activity in a PSPO effectively bans people from that activity in the area covered by the PSPO. Police officers and Canterbury City Council enforcement officers would have the power to remove and dispose of items and issue an on-the-spot fixed penalty notice of up to £100.

The council is proposing to introduce a new PSPO which would ban people carrying, releasing or discarding any canisters containing compressed gas in such a way as to cause nuisance, annoyance, harassment, alarm or distress. This would include, but not limited to, canisters containing nitrous oxide and canisters containing spray paint which might be used (among other things) for graffiti.

The PSPO would apply to all public spaces in the Canterbury district.

We want to know what you think about this proposal and why. If you have any evidence of gas canisters being a problem, please tell us about it – this is really important, as it can only be included in a PSPO if we can prove that:

• it is having, or is likely to have, a detrimental effect on the quality of life of those in the locality

• the impact of the activity is persistent or continuing

• the impact of the activity is unreasonable

Have your say

Tell us what you think by completing our questionnaire by 5pm on Friday 16 July.

All the feedback we receive will be reported to councillors and to the council’s Chief Executive to consider, before he decides whether to bring the draft PSPO into effect.

Published: 17 June 2021