Dartford’s renewed Public Spaces Protection Order, which protects people and businesses from anti-social behaviour in the town centre, has come into effect.
The renewed order goes one step further than its previous measures, with electric scooters now banned from busy, pedestrianised areas.
Anyone caught riding an e-scooter in High Street, Market Place or Lowfield Street (up to the junction with Market Street), risks a maximum £100 fixed penalty notice. Breaching a PSPO is considered a criminal offence and can carry a further penalty if the matter goes to Court.
Dartford first made a Town Centre PSPO in 2017 to address various forms of anti-social behaviour. The order continues to penalise such behaviours, stating that persons in the restricted area will not:
- Litter;
- Urinate or defecate (unless in a toilet facility);
- Swear, shout, or act in a threatening manner;
- Act in a manner that is causing or is likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress;
- Ride an e-scooter in the main pedestrian area of Dartford Town Centre at any time.
The order also bans consumption of alcohol, excluding licenced premises, and intoxicating substances within the restricted areas. Residents can read the order in full here.
Leader of the Council Jeremy Kite: “We’re not the kind of Council to see easy pickings in fines. This PSPO is about responding to the things people tell us they care about, that make our town centre safer and better for everyone.
“E-scooters are a hazard for pedestrians. They might have their benefits elsewhere, but we need to think about the dangers they pose to vulnerable people who have sight or mobility issues.
“We want to keep our town centre a safe place where businesses can thrive and people can enjoy themselves, and this renewed PSPO is another step towards preserving that environment.”