Public Spaces Protection Orders

Nottingham City Council Management Of Nottingham City Centre Public Spaces Protection Order 2026

Notice is hereby given that Nottingham City Council (“the Council”) intends to consult on the proposed variation of the Management of Nottingham City Centre Public Spaces Protection Order 2026 (“the Proposed PSPO”) to introduce a proposed restriction on the wearing of face coverings within the Restricted Area.

Nottingham City Council is seeking the views of those who live in, work in or visit the city centre in relation to a variation to the Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) that was recently introduced in Nottingham City Centre to introduce a proposed restriction on the wearing of face coverings in the Restricted Area.

This consultation relates ONLY to a variation to the 2026 City Centre PSPO to introduce a proposed restriction on the wearing of face coverings.

Under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, local authorities can vary the terms of a PSPO at any time to tackle new issues that have come to light in a specified area that were not included in the original PSPO and are having a detrimental impact on the quality of life of those in the locality.

PSPOs can prohibit specified things being done in public places that are identified in the order, and/or require specified things to be done by persons carrying on specified activities in that area.

Complete the Consultation Questionnaire

Downloads

• Notice of Consultation City Centre PSPO 2026  - Face Masks
• Draft Proposed Varied Order 2026
• Appendix 3 - Plan

The Management of Nottingham City Centre Public Spaces Protection Order 2026 ("City Centre PSPO"), which came into effect on 27 July 2026, requires the consent of Nottingham City Council to be obtained before certain activities are undertaken within Nottingham City Centre.

Consent is required if you wish to:

• Display a mobile advertisement (an advertisement comprising of or included on a placard borne by, or a sandwich board or costume worn by a person or animal).
• Distribute free matter (which includes matter which is distributed subject to a voluntary payment or charge or discretionary donation).
  (If you are proposing to distribute free printed material, please use the form that can be found at: Free Printed material distribution - Nottingham City Council)
• Stop or approach people with the intention of asking them for money, personal items or other donations, or with the intention of asking them to enter into any arrangements which involve them in making any future payment or providing information to assist them being contacted at another time with a view to their making a future payment.
  Charities authorised to conduct face-to-face fundraising in Nottingham City Centre via the Institute of Fundraising Site Management Agreement dated February 2014 do not need to apply for further consent.

A copy of the City Centre PSPO and supporting documentation can be viewed below:

Nottingham City Centre Public Spaces Protection Order Download

The City Centre PSPO includes restrictions relating to:

• Obstructing access to buildings or blocking highways
• Interfering with street-cleaning operations
• Unauthorised requests for money and certain street collections
• Selling the Big Issue away from an approved pitch
• Busking that causes unreasonable disturbance or takes place in a restricted area
• Distributing free materials, such as leaflets, without permission
• Using mobile advertisements, including human A-boards and placards
• Urinating or defecating in public places

Download Full City PSPO Document

The PSPO means that police or other authorised officers can require anyone behaving anti-socially in a public place to stop drinking and hand over their alcohol. In most cases, this works to prevent the nuisance quickly.

Reporting Issues, behaviour or other breaches of PSPOs

Click here to report an incident

More information can be found about PSPO in City by clicking below. 

• DPPOs When Treated As PSPOs
• Arboretum Radford And Park PSPO Extension 1
• Basford PSPO Extension 1
• City Centre Alcohol Prohibition PSPO Extension 1
• City Wide Extension PSPO Extension 1
• Hyson Green PSPO Extension 1
• Sneinton Forest And Mapperley PSPO Extension 1
• St Anns And Mapperley PSPO Extension 1
• St Anns And Sneinton PSPO Extension 1

Further Information

• Visit:  Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act: at GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

PSPOs for Alleyways and Rights of Way can be viewed below:

PSPO: Alleyways and Rights of Way

Some public areas in Nottingham are covered by Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs) - previously called Dog Control Orders (DCOs).

In public areas with PSPOs, you may have to:

• Keep your dog on a lead
• Put your dog on a lead if told to by a police officer, police community support officer or someone from the council
• Stop your dog going to certain places - like farmland or parts of a park
• Limit the number of dogs you have with you (this applies to professional dog walkers too)
• Clear up after your dog
• Carry a poop scoop and disposable bags

If you ignore a PSPO, you can be fined

• Dogs Fouling of Land extended Order
• Dogs on leads extended order
• Dogs exclusion extended Order
• Dogs on Leads By Direction extended order
• PSPO Map

Dog control: Reporting Issues, Stays, fouling

You Can find more information on reporting dogs, fouling and strays by

• Visiting our Dog Control (Lost, Stray or Fouling Dogs) NCC Page