Plans for police & council to get extra powers in Kings Heath & Moseley - here’s why

Birmingham City Council launched a public consultation today (Monday, July 31) over measures to tackle anti-social behaviour (ASB) in two neighbourhoods.

The council hopes to implement a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) to prevent certain anti-social behaviours in the areas and opened a six-week public consultation so residents can share their views online or at several in-person events.

If the PSPO goes forward after public consultation, it would address activities including groups causing anti-social behaviour, being under the influence of intoxicating substance/alcohol while in a public place, and damage or destruction of property (eg graffiti).

They hope to apply the PSPO along will cover residential areas along Alcester Road - which runs through Kings Heath and Moseley - well as Kings Heath Park, Highbury Park and centre of Moseley. It will be in place for three years. The public consultation ends on September 17, 2023.

Birmingham City Council has provided a draft order & map on their website. This area has been subject to previous orders since 2014, and this would renew the most recent order which lapsed during the pandemic.

What is a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO)?

PSPOs were introduced under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, and provide the police and the council with additional powers within a defined area to tackle a wide range of anti-social behaviours like groups causing ASB, being drunk or under the influence of substances in a public place and damaging or destroying property, including via graffiti. Not complying with them can lead to consequences to fines and court proceedings.

What Birmingham City Council said about the PSPO order plans for Kings Heath and Moseley

Cllr Nicky Brennan, Cabinet Member for Social Inclusion, Community Safety and Equalities, said: “Moseley and Kings Heath are fantastic places to live in, work in and visit, and I want our city to be a place where people feel safe wherever they are, at all times of day.

“However, I am aware that there are issues around anti-social behaviour that residents and visitors to Moseley and Kings Heath experience almost daily. We want to ensure people feel safe when they are out and about, so this PSPO aims to tackle anti-social behaviour with a view to improving safety in public spaces in this area.”

How to have your say?

A number of public drop-in events will be hosted in the area during the consultation period, including:

• 3 August – 11.30am-12.30pm: - Common Room at Harrison House, Britford Close, B14 5LQ
• 26 August – 9am-11am - Moseley Farmer’s Market, Village Green, B13 8HW

Further sessions will be added to the Birmingham BeHeard website and shared via the council’s social media. People can have their say by completing the consultation questionnaire on the Birmingham BeHeard website.