Restriction of activities in public places

PSPOs work by imposing conditions on the use of the area, so that the law-abiding majority can use and enjoy public spaces, safe from anti-social behaviour.

PSPOs include similar powers that used to be covered by controlled drinking zones (which gave police officers the power to stop anyone drinking alcohol if causing a nuisance or distress to others and/or confiscate open or sealed cans or bottles of alcohol if they thought it was likely to be drunk in a public place).

Where can a PSPO apply?

A council can make a PSPO on any public space within its own area. The definition of public space is wide and may include any place to which the public has access as of right or by permission.

Failure to comply with a PSPO

Police and specific officers authorised by the council, can enforce PSPO conditions and may issue fixed penalty notices of £100 for non-compliance. 

Non-payment of an FPN may lead to court prosecution with a maximum fine of £1,000 and/or a criminal conviction.

What PSPOs are in place?

Our borough wide PSPO 2025 (PDF, 972 KB) contains full details of our PSPO policy and the Anti-Social Behaviour Crime and Policing Act 2014 section 59 impose the following prohibitions in all public spaces within the borough of Hillingdon:

• alcohol and drugs - includes but not limited to the possession of an open container of alcohol and its consumption 
• vehicle nuisance - includes but not limited to car meets, street racing, e-bicycles and e-scooters  
• urinating, defecating and spitting - except in a premise designed for that purpose
• dogs and vermin - includes being in possession of more than 4 dogs on the street, dog fouling, dog without lead, bird feeding 
• parks and open spaces - unauthorised fireworks or barbeque, unauthorised use of mineral or metal detector, smoking within a children's play area, unauthorised fishing or dredging, remaining in a park at a designated closing time or refusing to leave when required by an authorised officer, unauthorised use of a megaphone, loudspeaker or any similar equipment, unauthorised use of mains electricity or generator power
• general prohibitions - includes but not limited to unauthorised encampment, verbal abuse and harassment, aggressive begging 
• obstruction - includes giving false information, physically obstructing an authorised officer, and refusing to comply with reasonable instruction in compliance with this PSPO
• specific town centre conditions - financial agreements made in the street, trading, and distribution of free leaflets - except for a political or religious purpose, on behalf of a charity, or for the purposes of a religion or belief.

PSPO 2025

Taxis, private hire vehicles and chauffer driven vehicles waiting in streets near Heathrow Airport.

The PSPO will prohibit these vehicles from waiting in streets in the wards of Pinkwell, West Drayton, and Heathrow Villages - unless they are collecting or dropping off passengers in those streets or are based or live there.

A person in charge of a motor vehicle being used as a taxi, private hire vehicle, chauffeur vehicle, or any other type of vehicle used for hire or reward purposes will be guilty of an offence if they park and/or wait within the restricted area (PDF, 9 MB) described in the schedule below unless:

• the person is either collecting or dropping off a passenger/passengers from within the exclusion area, or
• the person resides within the restricted area, or
• the business operating the vehicle is based within the restricted area, and the offence has taken place within the vicinity of the business premises. 

Download the full PSPO PHV order 2025 (PDF, 96 KB).

Reporting a breach of a PSPO

Catching offenders in the act is difficult, so information identifying an offender is vital and where possible should be collected before submitting a report.

What we need to know

1. The exact location and time the breach took place (a 2-week diary noting down the frequency of occurrences are vital for certain PSPO reports, such as dog fouling and bird feeding).
2. The condition/restriction of the PSPO breached.
3. Evidence such as a photograph or recording, and or a witness statement.

Report a public nuisance

What happens next? 

Your report will be reviewed and, if there is sufficient evidence to support breach of the PSPO, appropriate action will be taken.