Dog Control Public Spaces Protection Order 2017

Open for comments from Monday 27 February to Friday 31 March.

We can make Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs) under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014. 

PSPOs were created to deal with problems in public spaces which have a negative impact on the local community’s quality of life. A PSPO does this by stopping certain activities in the area it covers. If someone refuses to stop doing the activity covered by the PSPO it is a criminal offence and they can be issued a fixed penalty notice.

In 2017, after a public consultation, we made a PSPO to put in place an order to make restrictions in regards to dog control in the city - this includes dog exclusion, dog on lead areas and dog fouling removal requirements. This PSPO has been renewed once since then but is due to end on 18 October 2023. Before it ends we need to decide whether to renew the order, change it or allow it to end.

To renew the order we need to show that there is evidence that dog control will be problematic without the PSPO.

To change (or vary) the spaces that are covered by the PSPO or have evidence that there is antisocial behaviour related to dog control we need to stop.

We think that dog control across the city cannot be managed without the PSPO and so are looking to extend it and to include some additional restrictions. We want to know if you agree with this.

You can view details of the existing Public Space Protection Order (Dog Control) 2017.

You can also view details of the proposals that were presented at the Environment and Community Scrutiny Committee on 19 January 2023 (committee paper) and the appendices here : Agenda for Environment and Community Scrutiny Committee on Thursday, 19th January, 2023, 5.30 pm - Cambridge Council

Have your say

We want to know your thoughts on the PSPO, our proposal to extend and include some additional restrictions.

Please complete our survey to have your say.

Exceptions to the order

In the survey we ask for views on an exception to the order for a person in control of a working assistance dog that has been trained to assist a person who has a disability.

We are not proposing to remove an exception for assistance dogs.

Please be assured that the question is intended to see whether residents find the current exception satisfactory and if there are any suggested changes to improve the exception.

We can’t update the question because the survey is already live and unfortunately this would mean we would lose the responses already submitted. 

Next steps

After the consultation ends, we will write a committee report which will be shared with Councillors at the Environment and Community Scrutiny Committee on 29 June 2023.