By the Demoduck.co.uk editorial team
Plymouth residents, businesses and local organisations are being asked whether a city-wide order used to tackle alcohol-related anti-social behaviour should stay in place for another three years.
Plymouth City Council has opened a consultation on the future of the Public Spaces Protection Order, known as a PSPO, before the current order expires in October 2026. Feedback is open until 21 June 2026.
The order applies across Plymouth and is aimed at alcohol-related behaviour in public spaces. It is not targeted at any specific group or community.
The city-wide PSPO now under review
The current Public Spaces Protection Order was first introduced in 2020 and renewed in 2023. It gives authorised officers powers to intervene where alcohol is believed to be linked to anti-social behaviour.
Under the order, officers can ask a person to stop drinking alcohol in a public place. They can also require alcohol to be surrendered if it is believed that drinking may contribute to disorder or anti-social behaviour.
The consultation will help the council decide whether the PSPO should continue beyond October 2026, and whether it should remain in its current form.
Useful details for people taking part
- Consultation area: the whole of Plymouth
- Current expiry date: October 2026
- Proposed extension: a further three years
- Deadline for comments: 21 June 2026
- Who can respond: residents, businesses, partner agencies, organisations and people who spend time in Plymouth
- Cost to respond: no fee has been stated
What the consultation is asking
The council is seeking views on how the order is working in day-to-day life across the city.
The consultation asks people to comment on whether the current PSPO is effective, how far they feel affected by or concerned about alcohol-related crime and anti-social behaviour, and whether the order should be extended for another three years.
People are also being asked whether the PSPO should stay as it is if it is renewed.
Who the order affects in Plymouth
The PSPO applies to public spaces across the city. In practice, that means it can be used wherever alcohol-related anti-social behaviour is causing concern, rather than only in one neighbourhood or town centre area.
For residents, the issue may be about feeling safe in streets, parks or near homes. For businesses, it may involve public spaces around shops, hospitality venues and other places where disorder can affect staff, customers and visitors.
Councillor Chris Penberthy, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Community Safety, said alcohol-related anti-social behaviour can affect everyday life, from making residents feel uneasy in their own neighbourhoods to affecting businesses and public spaces.
Deadline for responses
Feedback gathered during the consultation will be used to inform the decision on whether Plymouth City Council renews the Public Spaces Protection Order after October 2026.
People who live, work, run a business, represent an organisation or regularly spend time in Plymouth can submit their views before the consultation closes on 21 June 2026.
Source: Plymouth City Council
Source check Source trail
This article was prepared from Plymouth City Council's published consultation notice and kept to the dates and powers described there.
- Confirmed the consultation deadline as 21 June 2026.
- Checked that the current PSPO is due to expire in October 2026.
- Verified that the order applies across Plymouth rather than one named neighbourhood.
- Identified the quoted cabinet member as Councillor Chris Penberthy.
- Source
- Plymouth City Council
- Scope
- Plymouth
- Updated
- 2026-06-03 21:26
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