Suspicious activity – forecourt of former Blockbusters’ building plus update on Public Spaces Protection Order and Police use of Community Protection Warnings

Reported to Community Safety and the Police on Wednesday 14 May 2025:

On Monday 12 May 2025 at around 10/10.30am, there were about 10 street attached/street drinkers (some with open cans/bottles) gathered in the forecourt of the former Blockbusters’ Building in Portswood, with lots of belongings in trolleys. My report is twofold:

1. There were a couple of younger men among them who did not appear (on the surface at least) to be street attached or street drinkers. It looked suspicious – query drug dealing, protection or some other suspicious activity?). It might be nothing but worth investigating as some of the street attached looked quite vulnerable. Additionally, a HRA colleague remembers seeing a van at the site on Sunday 11 May which she said also looked suspicious.

2. It was intimidating walking past this group of around ten men, particularly knowing that they might have been drinking. At what point do the police use a dispersal order to break up these large groups? There were also two street drinkers in the bus stop shelter opposite the forecourt. It would have been very uncomfortable for anyone to wait there, possibly unsafe.

Helpful response received from the Police on Wednesday 14 May:

“………..our current approach to dealing with public drinking and anti-social behaviour in the Portswood area.”

“While the Public Spaces Protection Order”– https://www.southampton.gov.uk/media/2pil3mdd/pspo-portswood.pdf

“is no longer in effect, we are continuing to take proportionate action. We are issuing Community Protection Warnings (CPWs)* contrary to Section 43 of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 to individuals who are persistently involved in problematic behaviour. One such warning has already been issued, and we are actively monitoring the area to identify others who may require similar action. We welcome reports like this, which help us direct our resources and responses more effectively.

Regarding your first point: Police officers, Community Safety teams, Street Pastors and homelessness outreach services regularly engage with those who are street-attached to ensure their safety and wellbeing, and to give them space to disclose any safeguarding concerns. That said, I will follow up on your observations and do some further digging into the points you’ve raised, particularly the suggestion of drug dealing/blackmail.

In relation to your second point about dispersal powers: the authority to issue a dispersal order falls under Section 34 of the aforementioned legislation and must be granted in writing by an officer of at least the rank of Inspector. This authorisation must be based on a reasonable belief that the use of such powers is necessary to prevent or reduce the likelihood of anti-social behaviour or crime in a specific area. The authorisation can last for up to 48 hours.

While these powers are available, their use must be justified and proportionate. It is not common practice to use dispersal orders solely in relation to the presence of homeless individuals unless their behaviour warrants it under the law. Additionally, it’s important to recognise that such powers are temporary – and once the authorisation period expires, there is nothing to prevent the individuals from returning. A continual cycle of short-term dispersals would not be a lawful.

We remain committed to working with partners and the community to find sustainable ways of addressing these concerns. Your ongoing reports are valued, and I encourage you to keep flagging any further incidents.”

*”A Community Protection Warning” ………………….”.is the initial step in addressing anti-social behaviour that affects the local community, and it can escalate to a Community Protection Notice if the behaviour persists.”

“For a more authoritative reference, I’d recommend consulting the relevant legislation, which provides the formal legal context”:
Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 – Community Protection Notices

Note: The PSPO (Public Spaces Protection Order) lapsed at the end of April but we understand that Community Safety are currently in the process of reinstating it and that the Legal Team are currently checking it and then it will go out for consultation. We also understand that the PSPO is being reinforced to make it more effective and that it might now also include aggressive begging and psychoactive drugs. Additionally, we also understand that people will be signposted/referred to support services to address underlying conditions.