Taking action to enhance town centre safety and wellbeing
After a comprehensive review and public consultation, we've refined the PSPO that covers the town centre area. The proposed order was approved at last week's Executive (27 March 2025). It focuses on creating a positive environment for residents, businesses, and visitors.
What this means for Guildford residents
- clear guidelines for acceptable public behaviour
- enhanced safety in public spaces
- proportionate enforcement with an emphasis on engagement and support
Key changes to the PSPO
- expanded geographic boundary that includes Black Cat Alley to address specific community concerns
- new provisions to address dangerous or anti-social use of vehicles and wheeled devices in pedestrian areas
- maintain controls on public alcohol consumption to reduce potential alcohol related anti-social behaviour
When does the new PSPO come into affect?
The town centre PSPO came into effect on 1 April 2025. It will run until 31 March 2028 and includes a commitment to ongoing review.
Lead Councillor for Regulatory and Democratic Services, Cllr Merel Rehorst-Smith, said
"Our goal is to strike a careful balance between protecting individual freedoms and ensuring our town centre feels safe and welcoming for everyone,"
Lead Councillor for Community and Organisational Development, Cllr Carla Morson, added:
"This PSPO is about creating an inclusive environment where all residents and visitors can enjoy a pleasant town. By working closely with our partners and taking a measured approach, we can address anti-social behaviour while remaining compassionate and understanding."
We have worked closely with Surrey Police and other key partners to develop it's approach. A new PSPO sub-group will be established. This will help intelligence sharing and develop supportive strategies for managing challenging behaviours.
More information about this Public Spaces Protection Order
Published on: 1 April 2025