FI16201

Request

Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, I am requesting the following information relating to use of PSPO’s and CPN powers in your local area between 1 January 2020 and 31 December 2024: 

1.      Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs):

a.      How many PSPOs are currently active in your local area?

b.      How many were introduced in each year 2020–2024?

c.      If available, what behaviours do these PSPOs restrict (e.g. busking, begging, loitering, amplification, rough sleeping/sleeping in vehicle, feeding birds/animals, car cruising, making noise, swearing or foul/abusive language, gatherings outside abortion clinics)

d.      How many Fixed Penalty Notices were issued for breach of PSPOs in this period?

e.      If available, disaggregated data on race, ethnicity, gender, socio-economic status and disability status for PSPOs issued in this period. 

2.      Community Protection Notices (CPNs):

a.      How many CPN warnings and full CPNs were issued annually between 2020–2024?

b.      If available, what were the most common reasons for issuing CPNs (e.g. bird feeding, barking dogs, begging, shouting/swearing, messy/overgrown gardens, neighbour disputes, repairing vehicles on the road, loitering, bonfires, breach of PSPO, drug use, sex work)

c.      How many breaches of CPNs resulted in prosecution or further enforcement?

d.      If available, disaggregated data on race, ethnicity, gender, socio-economic status and disability status for CPNs issued in this period.

3. If possible, please also briefly outline how this data is typically stored and retained (e.g. database system, format, retention period).

Response

1. (a) We have one PSPO covering the below 6 activities:

• Dog fouling
• Dogs on lead by order
• Dogs on lead
• Dog exclusion
• Consumption of alcohol in public places
• Unauthorised camping

A copy can be found on the Council's website at https://www.dover.gov.uk/Environment/Environmental-Crime/Public-Spaces-Protection-Order/Public-Spaces-Protection-Order.aspx.

(b) As follows: 

• A PSPO was introduced on 28 July 2018, this order was varied on 24 June 2019 and then extended for a period of one year on 26 July 2021.
• A PSPO was introduced on 26 July 2022 and then varied on 15 January 2024.

(c) The 2018 PSPO 2018 covered:

• Dog fouling
• Dogs on lead by order
• Dogs on lead
• Dog exclusion

The 2022 PSPO covered:

• Dog fouling
• Dogs on lead by order
• Dogs on lead
• Dog exclusion
• Consumption of alcohol in public places
• Unauthorised camping

 (d) As follows:

Calendar year	No. of FPNs issued
2020	16
2021	15
2022	6
2023	31
2024	8

(e) The Council does not hold this information.

2. (a) As follows: 

Calendar year	No. CPN Written Warnings issued	No. CPNs issued	Reason for service
2020	2	0	-
2021	1	0	-
2022	0	0	-
2023	10	1	Waste accumulation
2024	1	1	Waste accumulation

In addition to the above, I can confirm that the Council holds information about CPN written warnings in respect of dog fouling, dogs on lead by order, dogs on lead and dog exclusion however this data is not recorded in a way that can be retrieved, and a search of all records would need to be undertaken to retrieve and collate this information.  As this information is not readily available and from our preliminary assessment, we have estimated that the cost of complying with this part your request would exceed the ‘appropriate limit’.   The appropriate limit has been specified in regulations and for Local Government it is set at £450. This represents the estimated cost of one person spending 2½ working days in determining whether the information is held, locating, retrieving and extracting the data. I regret therefore, that on this occasion I must refuse this part your request in accordance with Section 12(1) of the Freedom of Information Act. 

Kent Police also issue CPWs and CPNs on behalf of the District Council.  The Council does not hold information about these, and you will need to contact Kent Police direct for this information.

(b) Waste accumulation.

(c) As follows:                       

Calendar year	No. FPNs for failure to comply with CPN issued	No. Prosecutions
2020	1	0
2021	3	0
2022	2	1
2023	1	0
2024	0	0

 (d) The Council does not hold this information.

3. Stored on Database in accordance with the Retention Schedule which can be found online at https://www.dover.gov.uk/Corporate-Information/Retention-Schedule.aspx.