City behaviour order not fixing issues - charity

Measures to tackle antisocial behaviour in Sheffield city centre have been hailed a success, but concerns remain about the impact on vulnerable people.

Introduced in April 2025, a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) gives the council power to take action against people caught engaging in activities, including aggressive begging, drug use and loitering.

Figures covering the first 18 months of the PSPO show the number of breaches recorded dropped from a monthly average of 381 during the first six months to 186 following that.

However, one charity helping people battling addiction and homelessness said while improvements had been seen in the city centre some of the problems had moved elsewhere.

The order covers the whole of the city centre from Shalesmoor, out to Park Hill, down to London Road and Ecclesall Road and over to Upperthorpe and Walkley.

Anyone in breach of the PSPO can be moved on and could be fined up to £100.

Alex Lumsden, outreach manager at Ben's Centre, said his original concern had been that vulnerable people would simply be moved elsewhere rather than helped to address the causes of their circumstances.

However, he said the impact had proved more complex than he had expected.

While fewer people appeared to be congregating in some of the busiest parts of the city centre, he believed some activity had shifted to nearby streets rather than disappeared altogether.

"We're happy to see anything that makes the city centre a more pleasant, peaceful, welcoming place to be," he said.

"But people still have the problems."

Damian, 58, said he was among those who had felt the effects of the measures.

The rough sleeper said he had already been moved on twice on Tuesday and worried another warning would force him to leave the city centre altogether.

"I won't be able to get a bit of change and some food to take to get me and Patch [his dog] some food," he said.

After Damian spoke to the BBC, he was moved on again.

Other people in the city centre said they had noticed improvements since the order was introduced.

Brenda, 85, said problems with litter and electric scooters appeared to have reduced and that the measures were "working".

Andrew, 75, said his wife now felt "much safer" waiting for buses than she had previously.

Liberal Democrat councillor Joe Otten said the figures suggested the approach was delivering results while still prioritising support for vulnerable people.

"We've seen since the order came in a reduction of about half of the incidence of things like aggressive begging and problem behaviour from people drinking in the streets," he said.

"It means we've got a city centre that is much more pleasant and attractive for people to come and visit."

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the council report said 358 warning notices of intended action have been issued and magistrates had issued fines totalling £2,384 to defendants for breaching the PSPO.

The BBC has approached Sheffield City Council for comment.

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