Question about the Dispersal Order raised in the HRA Crime Information Sharing WhatsApp Group. Response received from local Portswood police 17/10/26

A question was raised in the WhatsApp Group about whether there were any longer term solutions to using Dispersal Orders which only last up to 48 hours. Below is what I have received as a response from the local police. My question was not fully answered so I have asked further questions. I am awaiting a further response.

“I see that there is currently a Dispersal Order in place until 8pm this evening in Portswood. My recollection is that this is the 3rd Dispersal Order since the beginning of August 2026? Thank you for undertaking this. As I understand it, these Dispersal Orders are for a maximum of 48 hours.  Is there a longer term solution to this to keep Portswood streets safe and free from street drinkers? Are the police using the Public Spaces Protection Order consistently? Are there other means available that are more long term?”

“I believe your recollection may well be right regarding the number of dispersal authorisations since August. However, my understanding is that one of those may have related to protest activity in the locality, whereas another, and the most recent authorisation, were in response to anti social behaviour associated with potential breaches of the PSPO.

Although the dispersal power is a separate police power from the PSPO, in these circumstances the two are closely linked. With the PSPO in place and the dispersal authority covering the same area, officers can use the dispersal power where appropriate in response to individuals whose behaviour is breaching the PSPO.

In theory, our enforcement could rely on the PSPO alone. At present, however, there is not the same established police recording and administrative process for dealing exclusively with PSPO breaches. The dispersal process provides an established mechanism for recording, administering and monitoring police action, with the ability to escalate matters where required. Where a dispersal is connected to conduct contrary to the PSPO, the associated police documentation will make reference to the relevant PSPO behaviour as the grounds for that action.

I hope that makes sense and helps to explain why the dispersal powers have been used alongside the PSPO, rather than as an alternative to it.”