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Public Space Protection Orders Extended in Ceredigion Towns
Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) designed to prohibit alcohol consumption in certain public areas are set to be extended for an additional three years in the Ceredigion towns of Aberystwyth, Cardigan, and Lampeter. This decision comes despite challenges presented by local police regarding the necessity of the orders.
The existing orders allow police and authorised officers to request individuals to cease drinking alcohol in designated public spaces. Failure to comply or engaging in public drinking can result in a criminal offence. The current PSPOs, which were originally established for a three-year term, are set to expire in October 2026, following extensions granted in 2020 and 2023.
During a recent meeting of Ceredigion Council’s cabinet, Councillor Matthew Vaux reported that all three town councils and the seven county councillors in the area supported the renewal of the orders. However, Dyfed-Powys Police expressed concerns, indicating they lacked substantial evidence to demonstrate the ongoing need for the restrictions. A report noted that the police had only responded to seven incidents over the past year where street drinking was identified as an issue.
The Local Commander of Dyfed-Powys Police highlighted that the relatively low number of recorded incidents made it challenging to establish that the PSPOs remained “necessary and proportionate.”
Options discussed at the meeting included extending the PSPOs for another three years, allowing them to lapse, or reviewing their status further. Councillor Alun Williams from Aberystwyth Morfa a Glais expressed his surprise at the suggestion to discontinue the orders, citing their effectiveness in transforming the environment, particularly in Owain Glyndwr Square, which he described as previously dominated by groups of drunken individuals.
Councillor Ann Bowen Morgan from Lampeter echoed these sentiments, affirming that while issues may not have been as pronounced in her town, the PSPOs had positively impacted the situation in Harford Square.
The council members unanimously voted in favour of continuing the PSPOs across the three towns, with the final resolution pending review by the full council. The estimated cost for extending the orders stands at approximately £700 for necessary public notifications.
