This consultation is now closed
On 28 October 2022 the Council made an Expedited Public Spaces Protection Order (E-PSPO) for six months that applies to all public places in the city of Manchester.
An expedited PSPO is made to protect the public from harm that some protests in the vicinity of schools, vaccination centres and NHS Test and Trace sites cause. They are intended to help ensure that both the public using services at these sites and the staff and volunteers providing these services, can do so free from intimidation, harassment and impediment of access or provision of services.
In the vicinity of vaccination clinics in Manchester the E-PSPO prevents people from:
- Intimidating and or harassing staff, volunteers and members of the public attending a clinic for a vaccination
- Interfering with or hindering the delivery of the vaccination services
- Hindering people’s access to the vaccination clinics
- Shouting or using amplified equipment to deliver messages against Covid-19 vaccinations
- Displaying or handing out any information or signage against the Covid-19 vaccinations
The Order allows Authorised Officers and Constables to ask someone who is suspected of breaking the Order to provide their details, to leave the area and not return for 24 hours and remove any signage.
The Order was introduced following an investigation involving the Council working together with Public Health colleagues and Greater Manchester Police.
The E-PSPO expires on 27 April 2023 and may not be extended.
Notification has now been received that there will be a further Covid booster programme in the Spring that will require further use of pop-up vaccination clinics. It is therefore proposed to consult on a full Public Spaces Protection Order to provide protection for those accessing the clinics for the next 12 months programme of vaccinations.
What PSPOs are and the reasons they're put in place
What a PSPO is
When there are problems or nuisance in an area affecting the local community's quality of life, we may put rules in place to deal with it. These rules or 'orders' are designed to make sure we can all use and enjoy public spaces, safe from antisocial behaviour.
An ‘order’ places restrictions and requirements on certain behaviour in an area. The order can last up to three years. The Council can – after further consultation – extend it for another three-year period.
It will be a criminal offence not to obey the terms of the order, and you can either get a fixed penalty notice of £100 or be prosecuted, which could lead to a fine of up to £1,000.
Why a PSPO is put in place
A PSPO can be introduced if the relevant behaviour is having, or is likely to have, a detrimental effect on the quality of life of people in the area. The behaviour has to be ongoing or happening regularly, be unreasonable, and its impact must be such that the restrictions and requirements should be put in place.
Following this consultation the Council will carefully consider the results before making the final decision. People would be made aware of the final decision and if an order is put in place there would be signs put up in the relevant areas.
Challenging a PSPO
Anyone who lives in, regularly works in or visits the area can appeal a PSPO in the High Court within 6 weeks of it being made.
Why we are consulting on a PSPO