The Executive Decision meeting of Waltham Forest Council on Monday 22 July 2024 was scheduled to discuss a proposed Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) aimed at tackling anti-social behaviour related to organised car meets. The meeting was held in private, with no public access.

The Public Spaces Protection Order

The primary item scheduled for discussion was the proposed creation of a borough-wide Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) to address nuisance and anti-social behaviour associated with organised car meets. The report pack indicated that this measure was being considered due to a significant increase in such incidents, leading to noise nuisance, distress for residents, and concerns about public safety.

The proposed PSPO would prohibit congregating for the purpose of participating in or spectating at a car meet that is likely to cause a nuisance. Specific behaviours targeted include:

• Driving a motor vehicle at excessive speed
• Revving of engines
• Sudden or rapid acceleration/deceleration
• Driving in convoy
• Idling
• Performing stunts
• Sounding horns
• Playing amplified music
• Displaying
• Causing obstruction

A car meet is defined within the proposal as Groups of car and motorcycle owners congregating, by either participating or spectating, within a specific and designated location for the purpose detailed above.

The report pack detailed the background to the issue, including specific hotspot locations such as Argyll Avenue E10 and Leyton Mills Retail Park, and the challenges faced by current enforcement powers. It was noted that existing legislation had limitations in addressing the congregation aspect of car meets, which is considered a major contributing factor to the disruption.

The report outlined the results of a public consultation held between March and May 2024, which indicated strong support for a borough-wide PSPO, with 88.2% of respondents agreeing with its introduction. The consultation also revealed that 81.7% of respondents supported the proposed restrictions. Common concerns raised by residents included noise nuisance, pollution, and dangerous driving. A small percentage of respondents expressed disagreement, with some feeling it was not a significant problem in Waltham Forest or did not affect them. One respondent raised equality concerns regarding the potential impact on mental health.

The report also included a letter of support from Superintendent Lora John of the Metropolitan Police, who stated that the PSPO would be critical in dealing with the offenders, prevent a recurrence of these issues and restore public confidence.

The proposed PSPO was intended to come into effect on 7 October 2024 and run for a period of three years, expiring on 6 October 2027. The report also included a timetable for implementation, with the executive decision scheduled for 22 July 2024, followed by a six-week appeal process, sign design, publicity, and installation of signs before the order goes live.

The report also addressed legal implications, noting that the PSPO would be made under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014. It also considered the Human Rights Act 1998, specifically articles 10 (freedom of expression) and 11 (freedom of assembly), stating that the order was considered necessary in the interests of public safety and the prevention of disorder or crime. An Equalities Impact Assessment (EqIA) was conducted, which concluded that the policy would have a positive impact by preventing the negative effects of nuisance caused by car meets, and no major change was deemed required.

The report also detailed alternative options considered, such as injunctions, but concluded that a PSPO was preferable due to its broader enforcement capabilities across various council teams and the police.