(Image: The Northern Echo)
Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) have helped reduce begging and tackle anti-social behaviour in Darlington, a council review has found.
The orders were introduced across the borough in July 2025, giving enforcement officers additional powers to deal with issues including begging, street drinking, littering and anti-social behaviour.
A review of their first 12 months found the powers had been used in a range of situations, although the council said some areas of enforcement had proved more difficult.
Two PSPOs are currently in force.
One covers Darlington town centre and includes restrictions on drinking alcohol in public after being asked to stop, failing to surrender alcohol when requested, feeding birds, anti-social use of bicycles and scooters, and threatening behaviour.
The second covers the whole borough and addresses begging, household waste presentation and allowing dogs to stray.
The council said PSPOs were intended to ensure public spaces could be enjoyed without anti-social behaviour, rather than preventing the responsible use of the town centre or stopping young people from socialising.
Street drinking
The council said concerns had recently been raised by town centre businesses about a group of people drinking in the PSPO area.
Two £100 fixed penalty notices (FPNs) were issued to people who continued drinking after being asked to stop. A further two FPNs were issued to people who refused to surrender alcohol when requested.
Officers have been instructed to patrol the area and explain the PSPO's requirements, with enforcement to follow if people refuse to comply, the report added.
Begging
Reports of begging in Darlington have “significantly reduced” over the past year, according to the review.
However, a core group of people continue to beg in the town.
The council said officers use a “four Es” approach – engagement, education, empathy and enforcement – and offer referrals to support agencies to people they encounter.
Since the PSPO was introduced, 57 online reports of begging have been received by Civic Enforcement. Six FPNs have been issued to people found begging during the past year.
A begging support officer, who is partly funded by the council, has also carried out daily patrols. The officer engaged with people begging on 207 occasions during the six months covered by the review, making referrals to support agencies and Housing Services where appropriate.
Waste and dog controls
The borough-wide order has also been used to tackle household waste being presented incorrectly - but officers admitted side waste remained a “significant” issue in communities.
A total of 10 people have received PSPO warnings, while two FPNs were issued to the same person after they repeatedly presented household waste incorrectly. The person failed to pay the fines and was subsequently convicted at magistrates' court of two breaches of the PSPO and fined £180.
Skateboards and threatening behaviour
However, council officers have found it difficult to enforce the ban on anti-social use of skateboards, scooters, bicycles and e-bikes because people can quickly move away when approached.
Despite the difficulties, the council said some officers had successfully prevented people from using stunt bikes, skateboards and scooters in the town centre, directing them towards more appropriate areas such as the skatepark in South Park.
One FPN was issued to a person riding a bicycle in an anti-social manner.
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Bird feeding
The town centre order also prohibits people from continuing to feed birds after being asked to stop. Officers have generally taken an educational approach, explaining the restrictions to people encountered feeding pigeons or other birds.
No FPNs have been issued so far.
Proactive patrols are planned, particularly outside food businesses, where officers will target people feeding birds with leftovers and pastries.
The council said the PSPOs provided a way of dealing with persistent problems while allowing officers to take a proportionate approach.