Sutton Council has drawn up plans giving authorised officers powers to tackle loud street preaching, busking and performances in Sutton High Street and Beddington Park.
Under the draft Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO), officers could order people using amplification equipment to reduce the volume, switch it off or stop using it altogether. An authorised officer could also order someone to hand over their speakers or other sound equipment.
The proposals specifically name street preaching alongside busking, street performances, public speaking and music played from vehicles. They would apply where sound amplification causes, or is likely to cause, “nuisance, annoyance, harassment, alarm or distress”.
The definition of amplification equipment is wide-ranging, covering microphones, loudspeakers, amplifiers, megaphones, loud hailers and public-address systems, as well as other devices designed or adapted to amplify music or speech.
The proposals do not amount to an outright ban on preaching or busking. Instead, they would allow action to be taken over amplified sound meeting the threshold set out in the order.
Lawful protests and certain public processions are among the activities exempted from the restrictions, alongside council-authorised events and emergency services.
People suspected of breaching the order could also be required to give their name and address. An authorised person could direct someone believed to have breached the rules to leave an area and not return for up to 24 hours.
Breaching the order without reasonable excuse would be a criminal offence, with the accompanying document stating offenders convicted in the magistrates’ court could face a fine of up to £1,000. A fixed penalty of up to £500 could instead be offered in relevant cases, while separate provisions apply to specified alcohol offences.
The restrictions are contained in a draft order for consultation, meaning they have not yet come into force. If ultimately approved, the new PSPO is intended to last for three years, from 2027 until 2030.
The unusual proposals are part of a much wider planned crackdown on anti-social behaviour across Sutton. The same draft order includes restrictions covering everything from nuisance e-scooter riding and dog control to fishing, barbecues, parking and the use of sports facilities.
Public Spaces Protection Orders are a tool councils use to deal with persistent anti-social behaviour in a defined area, and they must go through consultation before they can be adopted. That means residents, businesses and those affected by the Sutton proposals will have a chance to have their say before any of these powers become law.
What is not yet known: the consultation timetable, or when Sutton Council will take a final decision on the draft order.
Sutton Council has been active on local issues in recent weeks, including a care home proposal in Cheam that drew 36 objections and delays to the 213 bus service.
