Consultation
Review of PSPO in Braintree Town Centre
We are consulting on the Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) for the restricted area outlined in orange in Braintree Town Centre. This order has been in place since October 2024 and is reviewed every 12 months to ensure it remains effective and benefits the community.
The PSPO gives legal powers to the Council and Essex Police to tackle anti-social behaviour, including:
- Consuming alcohol in a way that causes or is likely to cause harassment, alarm, distress, nuisance, or annoyance.
- Aggressive begging.
- Threatening, disorderly, abusive, or unacceptable behaviour.
Breaching a PSPO restriction is a criminal offence and may result in prosecution. Police or authorised officers can require individuals to stop the behaviour and issue a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) if they fail to comply.
The PSPO supports Braintree District Council and Essex Police in maintaining community safety, public order, and quality of life for residents, businesses, and visitors. Any amendments agreed will remain in place for two years.
View the draft amendments to the PSPO
How to have your say
We encourage residents of the district and local businesses to state whether they agree or disagree with the proposals, to offer any further comments or suggestions, and share experiences of this type of anti-social behaviour in the Braintree District. Your feedback will be analysed and shared with the cabinet member for stronger communities who has delegated authority as to the implementation of the Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO).
Braintree District Council are holding a 28-day public consultation, which allows you to share your own experiences of anti-social behaviour in Braintree Town Centre and your thoughts on the amendments. The consultation process will end at midnight on 16 December 2025.
Vehicular nuisance
We have consulted on a proposed Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) for the whole of the Braintree District. PSPOs create legal powers to help authorities address specific anti-social behaviour issues in an area that are having a detrimental effect on the quality of life for those in the local community.
The proposed PSPO is to provide legal powers to help the council and police with tackling anti-social behaviour related to street racing and car meets on various road networks throughout the district. Breach of a PSPO restriction or prohibition is a criminal offence which can result in prosecution. If approved, this PSPO will allow police or other authorised officers to be able to ask someone causing anti-social behaviour to stop, and issue a fixed penalty notice if that person does not comply.
The PSPO will focus on tackling anti-social behaviour associated with nuisance car cruises, street racing, and dangerous or disruptive vehicle use. The option for individuals to drive responsibly within the district remains, while the PSPO is designed to support Braintree District Council and Essex Police in addressing behaviour that negatively impacts community safety, public order, and the quality of life for residents, businesses, and visitors. If implemented, the order will be in place for 3 years.
Map of coverage area for PSPO
How to have your say
The consultation period for the vehicluar nuisance PSPO ended at midnight on 7 September 2025. Feedback provided by residents and local businesses of the district included whether they agree or disagree with the proposals, offer any further comments or suggestions, and share experiences of this type of anti-social behaviour in the Braintree District.
Your feedback will be analysed and shared with the cabinet member for stronger communities who has delegated authority as to the implementation of the Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO). Updates on the proposed PSPO will be published on this page once available.
