Public space protection orders (PSPOs)

The 2014 Act gives councils the authority to draft and implement public spaces protection orders (PSPOs) in response to the particular issues affecting local communities, providing certain criteria and legal tests are met.

​Vehicle nuisance PSPO

The council originally brought in tough new rules 1 July 2021 to tackle “car cruising" activities at Majuba car park and within the surrounding Coatham development area, initially for a period of 18 months (until 31 December 2022).

The Order was brought in to tackle nuisance drivers who were racing or showing off in Majuba car parks on Redcar’s seafront, including by performing dangerous stunts and speeding. This type of anti-social behaviour was also attracting crowds putting them at risk of being injured by cars driving so dangerously.

PSPOs can be introduced for a maximum of three years but may be extended beyond this for further three-year period(s) where certain criteria are met.

Councils are required to carry out a review of the effectiveness of PSPOs ahead of their expiry when considering whether to renew them.

The review, carried out in conjunction with Cleveland police, concluded the Order should be renewed as it appeared to have had a significant impact in deterring vehicular nuisance issues within the Majuba “restricted area” since its introduction, but that the scope of the Order should be varied to include the whole Redcar and Cleveland local authority area due to vehicle nuisance issues, including Off Road Bike (ORB) and quad bike nuisance, being significant (and long-standing) issues affecting all parts of the borough.

The review also concluded the Order should be varied to address longstanding issues around antisocial and dangerous cycling at the Lower Promenade, Saltburn-by-the-sea.

Having complied with consultation requirements and secured significant support for its proposals to do so,  the council has now exercised its powers, sections 60 and  61 of the Antisocial Behaviour, Crime and Policing (2014) Act, to extend the Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) Majuba Vehicle Nuisance 2021 (subsequently to be known as “Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) Vehicle Nuisance”) for a further three years (until 31 December 2025), including the proposed variations.

The revised PSPO gives police officers (or an authorised person) discretionary powers to take enforcement action by issuing on the spot £100 fines (fixed penalty notice) to members of the public who commit the following vehicle nuisance offences on any public highway, car park and any other land to which the public has access in the Redcar and Cleveland local authority area:

  • congregate or loiter around one or more stationery vehicles to watch, encourage, assist or participate in a car cruising event, where a car cruising event is a meeting of two or more motor vehicles (including motorcycles and quad bikes) for the purpose of socialising, display, comparison, promotion or any other purpose other than the legitimate use of a public highway, car park and any other land to which the public has access in the Redcar and Cleveland local authority area
  • race motor vehicles or deliberately cause their vehicle to spin wheels so as to leave burnt rubber on the road surface
  • use their motor vehicle in a way which causes or is likely to cause danger, alarm, harassment, distress or nuisance to the public, including other road users (including pedestrians) and  people living in the locality, or to cause damage or risk of damage to private property, in particular driving at excessive speed, racing, spinning wheels so as to leave burnt rubber on the road surface, or causing or permitting excessive amplified music or other noise from their motor vehicle, including by revving engines or sounding horns
  • act in such a way which causes or is likely to cause alarm, harassment, distress, or nuisance to the public, including people living in the locality, in particular shouting and swearing at, or abusing, threatening or otherwise intimidating (including by the use of sexual language or making sexual suggestions) another person, or by dropping litter and urinating in public

(see also paragraph one of the Order’s schedule)

The revised PSPO also gives police officers (or an authorised person) discretionary powers to take enforcement action by issuing on the spot £100 fines (fixed penalty notice) to members of the public who commit the following offences within the “cycling and vehicle restricted areas” at Saltburn-promenade and beach:

  • cycling on the Lower Promenade between the hours of 10:00hrs and 17:30hrs between Good Friday and 31 October annually (both dates inclusive): paragraph two of the Order’s schedule
  • cycling on the Lower Promenade, at any time, in such a manner as to cause alarm, harassment or danger or give reasonable ground for annoyance to other persons using the Lower Promenade: paragraph three of the Order’s schedule
  • Definition: A cycle means a bicycle, a tricycle or a cycle having two or more wheels, including one power-assisted by electrical (or other means): paragraph three of the Order’s schedule
  • Exemption: children aged 12 years old and under and any bone-fide charitable organisation who has the express prior written permission of the council are exempted: paragraph four of the Order’s schedule
  • Parking  or driving a motorised or electric vehicle (including motorcycles and quad bikes) on the promenade or beach, with the exception of mobility scooters, unless permission has been granted by the council and evidence of this can be produced: paragraph five of the Order’s schedule
  • causing an obstruction at any time to the promenade by vehicles or any other structure or object, which impedes access by emergency services or council vehicles paragraph five of the Order’s schedule
  • making deliveries to concessions on the promenade after 10am, unless permission has been granted by the council and evidence of this can be produced paragraph five of the Order’s schedule

You can view the location maps for the restricted areas where the council the renewed Vehicle Nuisance PSPO applies:

The full extension and variation order can be viewed below:

Who will be enforcing the PSPO?

As part of a hybrid enforcement approach both Cleveland police officers and the council's own community enforcement team will carry out enforcement activities and issue fixed penalty notices for breaches.

What Information should I provide and who should I contact?

If you believe someone is in the breach of this PSPO, and it is safe to do so,  please try to obtain as much information as possible, for example, the location, make and model of the vehicle, registration number and the nature of the anti-social act.   

You can make reports to the council by calling our Customer Services Team on 01642 774774 between 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday, or by using our online report tool​.

You can make reports to Cleveland police by calling 101. They'll take down a few details, assess if a police presence is needed straight away and talk you through the next steps. 

PSPO consultations

The council sought views on its proposals to renew the existing Vehicle Nuisance Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) for a further three years (until 31 December 2025), and to vary the Order to enhance its effectiveness.

This consultation closed on Friday 15 December 2022.

You can view a summary of the consultation outcome by visiting the Previous consultations | Redcar and Cleveland (redcar-cleveland.gov.uk) page.