Ashford Borough Council has launched a public consultation on a proposed Public Spaces Protection Order for Tenterden Urban, following reports that wildlife has been killed and that residential property and vehicles have been damaged in the area in incidents linked to the use of projectile devices.

The Council, working with Kent Police and Tenterden Town Council, has been reviewing the reports collectively to identify common patterns. The proposed PSPO is described by the Council as providing “additional, proportionate powers to address persistent anti-social behaviour in public spaces” within a defined Tenterden Urban area.

The consultation runs until midnight on Sunday 7 June 2026.

What a PSPO does

A Public Spaces Protection Order is a tool under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 that allows a council to prohibit specified activities within a defined geographic area. Unlike a criminal behaviour order or an injunction, which is directed at an individual, a PSPO applies to anyone within the area covered.

A breach of a PSPO can be punished either by prosecution or, more commonly in practice, by the issue of a £100 fixed penalty notice.

A council cannot make a PSPO without first consulting the local community, the relevant chief officer of police (in this case Kent Police), and any owner or occupier of the land affected. The consultation now open in Tenterden is the statutory step that precedes any decision by Ashford Borough Council on whether to make the order.

What the proposed order would cover

According to the Council, the restrictions in the proposed order focus on four specific issues identified locally:

  • Possession of devices capable of discharging a projectile
  • Vehicles being used in an anti-social manner
  • The use of e-scooters in a way that causes nuisance or danger
  • Persons using foul or abusive language

The Council says the restrictions are intended to provide what it describes as early intervention, reassurance to the community, and an enforcement route where behaviour continues to cause “nuisance, alarm or distress.” The Council has not, in its press release, identified the specific projectile devices involved in the reports it has received.

What the Council has said

Cllr Katrina Giles, Portfolio Holder for Communities and Health at Ashford Borough Council, said the proposed order had been drawn up in response to documented local concerns rather than as a general restriction on activity.

“We want everyone who lives in, works in, or visits Tenterden to feel safe and welcome,” Cllr Giles said. “This consultation is about seeking local views on a proposed Public Spaces Protection Order for Tenterden Urban, which would give us additional powers to address specific behaviours that are causing nuisance or harm in public spaces.”

“A PSPO is not about penalising people for day-to-day activity; it is about setting clear expectations and enabling proportionate action where anti-social behaviour persists. I would encourage residents, businesses and visitors to take a few minutes to share their views, so any decision we take is informed by the community and reflects local priorities.”

How to respond

Residents, businesses and visitors are invited to respond via the Council’s online consultation portal at haveyoursay.ashford.gov.uk/tenterden-urban-public-spaces-protection-order-consultation. The portal includes the proposed restrictions in full, the geographic boundary of the order area, and a structured response form.

The consultation closes at midnight on Sunday 7 June 2026. Responses received after the closing date will not be considered in the formal decision.

Anyone unable to respond online can contact the Council’s Community Safety Unit on `csu@ashford.gov.uk` or 01233 331111 for an alternative response route.

The Council says it will publish a summary of consultation responses, alongside any decision on whether to make the PSPO, after the consultation period closes.

Background

Public Spaces Protection Orders have become a routine local-authority tool since their introduction in 2014, used by councils across England and Wales to address persistent anti-social behaviour in defined locations including town centres, parks, riverbanks, and recreation areas. The legislation allows a council to renew an order after three years.

More information on existing PSPOs across the Ashford borough is available at www.ashford.gov.uk/public-spaces-protection-order.

Sources

  • Ashford Borough Council media release ref 26-0043, 11 May 2026 (Alan Ng, Communications Officer).
  • Ashford Borough Council consultation portal: haveyoursay.ashford.gov.uk/tenterden-urban-public-spaces-protection-order-consultation (closing date confirmed midnight Sunday 7 June 2026).
  • Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 — Public Spaces Protection Order statutory framework.
  • Kent Police (operational partner on the consultation).
  • Tenterden Town Council (operational partner on the consultation).
  • Featured image: “Tenterden, High Street” by Helmut Zozmann, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0).