MP raises question over impact of Public Spaces Protection Orders on taxi drivers to minister
- Perry Richardson
- Sep 10
- 2 min read
Liberal Democrat MP Liz Jarvis has questioned the Government on the potential effect of Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs) on taxi and professional drivers operating across England and Wales.
As part of a parliamentary written question, the Eastleigh MP asked the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment had been made on how the PSPO process may be impacting taxi drivers’ ability to work in public areas. The question reflects concerns from the trade about being unfairly targeted by local restrictions designed to tackle anti-social behaviour.
In response, Transport Minister Simon Lightwood confirmed that the Department for Transport had not conducted a specific assessment. He explained that the policy is led by the Home Office and decisions around PSPOs are taken at a local level.
Local authorities are given powers under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 to introduce PSPOs to prevent ongoing issues in public spaces. These often relate to behaviours such as street drinking, loitering or noise, but can also include restrictions on where vehicles may wait or pick up passengers.
The Minister said: “The Home Office lead on Public Spaces Protection Orders policy. Public Spaces Protection Orders can be issued by local authorities to stop people committing anti-social behaviour in a public place. It is for local areas to decide how best to deploy these powers depending on the specific circumstances. They are best placed to understand what is driving the behaviour in question, the impact that it is having, and to determine the most appropriate response.”
However, concerns remain that taxi drivers could be inadvertently caught by the broad use of these powers, especially in areas where access to key pick-up points near stations, night-time venues or high streets may be restricted.
Trade representatives have previously raised issues where drivers have received penalties for stopping in zones covered by PSPOs without adequate signage or awareness. In some areas, PSPOs have been used to deter vehicles from idling, waiting or operating in certain times or zones, which may have unintended consequences for licensed drivers providing vital transport services.
As local authorities continue to use PSPOs to manage urban spaces, the trade is expected to call for more transparency and consistency in how such restrictions are applied and managed.
