Over 4,300 breaches of public space protection order in Sheffield city centre - but not one single fine
Officers can hand out £100 fines for anti-social behaviour in Sheffield city centre - but have never done so
The council claims anti-social behaviour in Sheffield city centre has fallen since introducing Public Space Protection Orders.
The provision for dealing with drinking in public, aggressive begging, loitering, drug use and public urination was introduced in December 2024.
Since then, over 4,300 breaches have been recorded by the end of August 2026, according to council papers.
In most cases, troublemakers are only directed to leave an area, or have drugs and alcohol confiscated.
It also gives officers the means to hand out £100 fixed penalty notices - but, after 17 months, no fines have ever been issued.
Further, the council claims breaches have fallen from an average of 381 per month in the first six months of the scheme to 186 per month subsequently.
It suggests that anti-social behaviour has fallen in the city centre.
The most frequent breach was loitering, with 45 per cent of all breaches, or around 1,963, were handed out for unwelcome hanging around.
A third of all breaches were for begging, with 1,400 incidents recorded in the 17 months up to August 2026.
One-in-five breaches were handed out for either drugs or alcohol in public.
It comes ahead of a meeting this Monday (November 2) by the Communities, Parks and Leisure Policy Committee, where they plan to make no changes to the order.
A council statement claims the authority has not simply handed out directed people to leave areas, but has “combined enforcement with support for vulnerable people.”
It reads: “Since the PSPO came into force, advice and support has been provided on 895 occasions and people have been directed to leave the area on 1,639 occasions.
“Six cases have also been taken to court, resulting in fines totalling £2,384.
“No changes to the PSPO are being proposed at this stage, with councillors asked to note the findings of the review.”