Birkenhead Town Centre Public Spaces Protection Order

This consultation is now closed.

Wirral Council is asking for people’s views on the proposed introduction of a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) for Birkenhead Town Centre and the surrounding area.

PSPOs are orders that can be introduced by local councils through the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 to deter individuals or groups engaging in anti-social behaviour (ASB). By dealing with a particular nuisance or problem in a specific area that’s considered damaging to the local community, PSPOs help to protect the area that they are introduced in and the people that live, visit and work there.

Wirral Council is proposing the introduction of a PSPO covering the Birkenhead area to deter ASB from taking place. In the period 1st April 2025 to 31st March 2026, in the above area there were 1,428 reported incidents to Police of ASB and ASB related crimes. Identified ASB trends in this location have included groups, individuals covering their faces to hide their identities, street drinking and reckless use of pedal cycles, E-bikes and scooters on the pavements, grass verges and public highways. This behaviour has been reported as intimidating and a nuisance to residents in the area.

Multiple interventions have been taken by Wirral Council’s Anti-Social Behaviour Team and Merseyside Police with 17 Acceptable Behaviour Contracts issued, 12 Formal Warnings, 1 Closure Order and 5 Criminal Behaviour Orders. Merseyside Police have implemented several Dispersal Zones to tackle this ASB, with mixed success. There has been a total of 3 targeted operations to combat youth ASB. In spite of these interventions, reports to Police of ASB and Crime in the Birkenhead area remain high.

The map below shows the boundary of the proposed area of the PSPO.

In summary, the proposed PSPO would seek to prohibit the following activities and have the following conditions:

  • If any person in the Restricted Area (marked in red) is in a group of 3 or more and an Authorised Officer believes they are acting or likely to act anti-socially, they must leave the area when asked to do so. They must then not return to the Restricted Area for a period of 24 hours without good reason.
  • No person is allowed to wear a face covering inside the Restricted Area if an Authorised Officer believes they are doing so to try and hide their identity.
  • No person shall ride any cycles, scooters or e-bikes within the Restricted Area in a dangerous, careless, reckless or inconsiderate manner and/or in a manner that is likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress to any pedestrian or road user. This can include, but is not limited to, weaving between pedestrians, performing stunts such as wheelies.
  • No person shall drink alcohol in any public place in the Restricted Area after being told not to by a Police Officer or an Authorised Officer.

If introduced, any individuals found breaching the terms of the PSPO would be liable to a fine or prosecution not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale (currently £1,000). Alternatively, Authorised Officers can issue a Fixed Penalty Notice (£100) if appropriate.

Take the survey below to tell us what you think about the proposed Public Spaces Protection Order. The results of the survey will help decide if this PSPO should be introduced in the Birkenhead area.

This consultation will last for 3 weeks, closing on Tuesday 26th May 2026. The decision on introducing the PSPO for the Birkenhead area will take place following the feedback gathered during this consultation.

This consultation is now closed.

Wirral Council is asking for people’s views on the proposed introduction of a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) for Birkenhead Town Centre and the surrounding area.

PSPOs are orders that can be introduced by local councils through the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 to deter individuals or groups engaging in anti-social behaviour (ASB). By dealing with a particular nuisance or problem in a specific area that’s considered damaging to the local community, PSPOs help to protect the area that they are introduced in and the people that live, visit and work there.

Wirral Council is proposing the introduction of a PSPO covering the Birkenhead area to deter ASB from taking place. In the period 1st April 2025 to 31st March 2026, in the above area there were 1,428 reported incidents to Police of ASB and ASB related crimes. Identified ASB trends in this location have included groups, individuals covering their faces to hide their identities, street drinking and reckless use of pedal cycles, E-bikes and scooters on the pavements, grass verges and public highways. This behaviour has been reported as intimidating and a nuisance to residents in the area.

Multiple interventions have been taken by Wirral Council’s Anti-Social Behaviour Team and Merseyside Police with 17 Acceptable Behaviour Contracts issued, 12 Formal Warnings, 1 Closure Order and 5 Criminal Behaviour Orders. Merseyside Police have implemented several Dispersal Zones to tackle this ASB, with mixed success. There has been a total of 3 targeted operations to combat youth ASB. In spite of these interventions, reports to Police of ASB and Crime in the Birkenhead area remain high.

The map below shows the boundary of the proposed area of the PSPO.

In summary, the proposed PSPO would seek to prohibit the following activities and have the following conditions:

  • If any person in the Restricted Area (marked in red) is in a group of 3 or more and an Authorised Officer believes they are acting or likely to act anti-socially, they must leave the area when asked to do so. They must then not return to the Restricted Area for a period of 24 hours without good reason.
  • No person is allowed to wear a face covering inside the Restricted Area if an Authorised Officer believes they are doing so to try and hide their identity.
  • No person shall ride any cycles, scooters or e-bikes within the Restricted Area in a dangerous, careless, reckless or inconsiderate manner and/or in a manner that is likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress to any pedestrian or road user. This can include, but is not limited to, weaving between pedestrians, performing stunts such as wheelies.
  • No person shall drink alcohol in any public place in the Restricted Area after being told not to by a Police Officer or an Authorised Officer.

If introduced, any individuals found breaching the terms of the PSPO would be liable to a fine or prosecution not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale (currently £1,000). Alternatively, Authorised Officers can issue a Fixed Penalty Notice (£100) if appropriate.

Take the survey below to tell us what you think about the proposed Public Spaces Protection Order. The results of the survey will help decide if this PSPO should be introduced in the Birkenhead area.

This consultation will last for 3 weeks, closing on Tuesday 26th May 2026. The decision on introducing the PSPO for the Birkenhead area will take place following the feedback gathered during this consultation.

Page last updated: 27 May 2026, 09:05 AM