A number of community groups have expressed their concern with the plans for a public space protection order to cover the whole of Haringey, reports Grace Howarth, Local Democracy Reporter

Tottenham Copwatch (inset) are opposing the borough-wide PSPO plans (credit Met Police)

Community groups have called Haringey Council’s proposed public spaces protection order (PSPO) “disgusting” following concerns it will have a detrimental impact on people affected by homelessness, poverty and exclusion.

The council has been running a public consultation on the implementation of a new borough-wide PSPO, which it says would be used to control behaviour that was either “having or is likely to have a harmful effect on a local community’s quality of life”.

A PSPO can be enforced by police officers or any officer designated by the local authority.

Groups including Tottenham Copwatch, Museum of Homelessness, and the Independent Socialist Group of councillors have been protesting the proposal in the run up to the consultation’s conclusion on Friday (2nd).

Speaking outside Tottenham Town Hall last week, Marlon Kameka from Tottenham Copwatch said the PSPO was the “ultimate disrespect for the people who live and work in Haringey”.

He said: “They want to criminalise people for demonstrating antisocial behaviour, but what is that? What does that look like? That looks different for everyone.”

The PSPO proposal lists several prohibitions, including public urination; riding a bicycle, moped, e-scooter or e-bike on restricted areas such as pavements; lighting a firework in a public space that is restricted; and demonstrating behaviour that causes, or is likely to cause “harassment, alarm or distress”.

If charged an individual can be fined £100 which, if they don’t pay within a set timeframe, will be increased to £1,000.

Marlon said: “Around 99% of people in this area, where I’ve lived for 22 years, will not be able to afford that £100, you might as well say it’s £1million. Why criminalise someone for executing a human bodily function, going to the toilet?

“If you walk down this street [High Road] there’s no public toilets.”

Matt Turtle, co-founder of the charity Museum of Homelessness, said the PSPO would have a “disproportionate effect” on vulnerable and marginalised people.

He said: “The thing that is very problematic is it’s drafted very vaguely. We don’t feel this has been consulted on properly, it’s extremely excessive and will just make life difficult for people.”

The museum submitted a petition with 84 signatures on Tuesday (30th July) to cabinet member for communities Ajda Ovat, urging the council to reconsider the PSPO and its impact.

The Home Office reported the Metropolitan Police would receive £3.5billion in funding this year. This amount has come under scrutiny as recent figures show as of 2023 just 5.7% of crimes were solved.

Marlon said: “That money should go into homeless shelters, it should be going to domestic violence centres, LGBTQ+ organisations, it should be going to people who are drug and alcohol dependent, youth centres.

“I don’t believe PSPOs should exist at all, I don’t believe in punishment because you’re working class, a young person, homeless.”

Research by the Museum of Homelessness recently showed that the number of homeless people who died in 2022 was 1,313, an 85% increase on a previous study in 2019.

Lotte Collett, an Independent Socialist Group councillor, said: “The further criminalisation and possible increase in court hearings that the PSPO would potentially create for the poorest in our community is counter intuitive. This proposal is poorly thought-out.

“Haringey is far more complex, the communities and vulnerable peoples’ that will be disproportionately targeted by this proposal are extremely nuanced and need much more forethought than this proposal allows for.”

In response, Cllr Ovat said: “The safety of our residents will always be our number one priority and the implementation of a PSPO helps us to protect our community.

“This is another opportunity for our residents to have their say on key issues such as antisocial behaviour. We will carefully consider all the comments we receive and make any necessary changes once this is finished.

“We welcome the feedback from Liberty, the Museum of Homelessness and Release and there is still time for residents, community groups and charitable organisations to respond to the consultation, which closes on Friday, 2nd August.

“In accordance with the Haringey Deal, we remain committed to working with our diverse communities and residents to build a safer Haringey for all our communities.”

To take part in the Haringey PSPO consultation:
Visit new.haringey.gov.uk/community-support-safety/antisocial-behaviour/proposed-borough-wide-public-spaces-protection-order-consultation

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