A new initiative designed to help Banbury visitors, workers, and residents feel safer and enjoy exploring the town centre starts today.
Published: Friday, 11th April 2025
From Monday, 14 April, Cherwell District Council’s new public spaces protection order (PSPO) for the town centre and People’s Park will be in force.
The PSPO will give the council and police additional powers to impose fines on a range of antisocial behaviours, including aggressive begging, nuisance, street drinking resulting in antisocial behaviour, and actions that cause alarm or distress.
Tim Hughes, Head of Regulatory Services and Community Safety at Cherwell District Council, said: “We are very proud to be proactively addressing concerns raised about antisocial behaviour in Banbury. The town has a lovely atmosphere and community, but on the occasion antisocial behaviour does occur, it can have a serious effect on those who experience it.
“The wellbeing and safety of those in Banbury is of the utmost importance to us, and by establishing the PSPO, our community wardens and police colleagues will have additional powers to discourage poor behaviour and take enforcement action where needed.”
The council’s community wardens will continue to speak with individuals and issue warnings to those engaged in the prohibited behaviours. If there are continued breaches of the order, they and the police can use their formal PSPO powers to fine these individuals.
The current order will continue for up to three years, during which a review will take place in the third year, along with an option to renew.