Toggle search
Toggle menu

Public Spaces Protection Order No 2 - vehicle-related anti-social behaviour

  1. 1. This Order may be cited as the Great Yarmouth Borough Council Public Spaces Protection Order No. 2.
  2. 2. The Great Yarmouth Borough Council (the "Council") extends and varies this Order under its powers contained ins. 59, s.60 and s.61 of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 ("the Act'), being satisfied on reasonable grounds that the activities set out in paragraph 5 in the locations described in paragraph 4 of this Order have had or are likely to have a detrimental effect on the quality of life of those in the locality, or it is likely  that activities will be carried out within that area and have such an effect to cause or likely to cause a nuisance. The Council is also satisfied that the effect, or likely effect, of the activities is, or is likely to be, of a persistent or continuing nature and that these activities are unreasonable and justify the restrictions imposed by this Order and that it is in all the circumstances expedient to make this Order for the purpose of reducing anti-social behaviour in a public place. The original Order came into effect at midnight on the 1 February 2017 and for a recurring period of three years thereafter. The current Order was extended on the 1st February 2026 and expires at midnight on 31st January 2029, unless extended by further Order under the Council's statutory powers.
  3. 3. This renewal, variation and extension of this Order comes into force at midnight on 1 February 2026 for a period of up to three years thereafter, unless extended by further order under the Council's statutory powers.
  4. 4. This Order applies to any public place within the Borough of Great Yarmouth.  The boundary is shown outlined in red on the plan attached to this Order. A public place is any place to which the public or any section of the public has access, on payment or otherwise, as of right or by virtue of express or implied permission. This includes but is not limited to: car parks, sports fields and playing fields and their attached facilities, parks and recreation grounds, public highways including footway and verge, esplanades, public open space land and communal open space owned by the Council or other landowner.

  5. Order

  6. 5. Subject to paragraph 14 below any person is prohibited from personally carrying out or assisting or encouraging any other person to carry out any of the behaviours specified in (a) to (k) below at any time in the restricted are as defined in the attached red lined map.
    1. (a) Driving a motor vehicle ("motor vehicle" is defined in the schedule) at excessive speed causing or being likely to cause a nuisance to persons within the boundary of the restricted area.
    2. (b) When driving a motor vehicle causing repeated sudden and rapid acceleration or deceleration of the motor vehicle causing or being likely to cause a nuisance to persons in the locality of the restricted area.
    3. (c) Racing other motor vehicles causing or being likely to cause a nuisance to persons in the locality of the restricted area.
    4. (d) Performing stunts using a motor vehicle causing or being likely to cause a nuisance and/or danger to persons in the locality of the restricted area. Performing stunts includes but is not limited to doughnutting, drifting, handbrake turns, wheelies, wheel spins or any other motor vehicle related activities which cause or are likely to cause a nuisance and/or danger to persons in the locality of the restricted area. Descriptions of the activities of doughnutting, handbrake turns, drifting, wheelies and wheel spins are set out in the schedule.
    5. (e) Sounding motor vehicle horns other than in accordance with the Highway Code in a manner causing or being likely to cause a nuisance to persons in the locality of the restricted area.
    6. (f) Playing amplified music in a motor vehicle or powered from a motor vehicle causing or causing or being likely to cause a nuisance to persons in the locality of the restricted area.
    7. (g) During an activity specified in paragraphs (a) to (f) above, using threatening and/or abusive language or otherwise intimidating another person causing or likely to cause a nuisance to persons in the locality of the restricted area.
    8. (h) Dropping litter from a motor vehicle.
    9. (i) Unnecessary revving of a motor vehicles engine causing or being likely to cause nuisance to a person in the locality of the restricted area.
    10. (j) Congregating in a group of at least three persons in or around two or more stationary motor vehicles, causing or being likely to cause a nuisance to persons in the locality of that part of the restricted area.
    11. (k) Carrying out any action not specified in the paragraph 5(a)- 5(j) above which involves the use of a stationary or moving motor vehicle which causes or is likely to cause a nuisance to persons in the locality of that part of the restricted area.

  7. Exclusion

  8. 6. An authorised person or constable may require an individual who is within any area to which this Order applies to leave the area (or part thereof)  if they reasonably suspect that individual to:
    1. (a) Have breached any of the terms of this Public Spaces Protection Order ;
    2. (b) Be behaving in a way which could reasonably cause a nuisance to any other person;
    3. (c) Be causing disorder; or,
    4. (d) Be behaving in a way which could reasonably cause harassment or alarm or distress to any other person.
  9. 7. An authorised person or constable may give additional directions to a person required to leave an area by virtue of paragraph 6 which require them to leave in a particular manner, by a particular route or within a particular timeframe. If no such direction is given, the requirement is deemed to be a requirement to leave the specified area (or areas) immediately by the most direct route.
  10. 8. Where an authorised person or constable imposes a requirement under paragraphs 6 to 7, they may also require a person not to return to the area to which the Order applies (or to any part thereof) for a period not exceeding 12 hours. The area specified by the authorised person under this paragraph may be different from that specified under paragraph 6.
  11. 9. Any requirement imposed by virtue of paragraphs 6 to 8 shall be imposed in writing.
  12. 10. An authorised person or constable must inform the person upon which any requirement is imposed of the consequences of failing to comply with said requirement, either at the time the requirement is imposed or as soon as practicable thereafter. This information must be provided in writing.
  13. 11. No person shall, without reasonable excuse, fail to comply with any requirement imposed by virtue of paragraphs 6 to 8.
  14. 12. No person is deemed to have breached any requirement imposed by virtue of paragraphs 6 to 8 where they are leaving an area in accordance with a requirement imposed by an authorised person in accordance with paragraph 7, provided that they leave in the manner prescribed by those directions (or, where no directions have been provided, immediately and by the most direct route).
  15. 13. No person is deemed to have breached a requirement imposed by virtue of paragraphs 6 to 8 where they are:
    1. (a) Returning to their permanent residence;
    2. (b) Attending any court, tribunal or other place where they are required to attend by virtue of any legal obligation;
    3. (c) Attending their school or place of work; or,
      Travelling directly to or from any of those places

  16. Extent

  17. 14. An activity or behaviour which is authorised by the owner of that part of the restricted area where the activity or behaviour is taking place is not a breach of this Order.

  18. Offences

  19. 15. Section 67 of the Act states that it is an offence for a person without reasonable excuse:
    1. (a) To do anything that the person is prohibited from doing by a public spaces protection order or,
    2. (b) To fail to comply with a requirement to which the person is subject under a public spaces protection order.
    3. A person guilty of an offence under section 67 of the Act is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.
    4. A person does not commit an offence under section 67 of the Act by failing to comply with a prohibition or requirement that the local authority did not have power to include in the public space protection order.
    5. A fixed penalty notice could be issued for a breach of this Order which if it remains unpaid could lead to prosecution.

  20. Challenging the validity of orders

  21. An interested person may apply to the High Court to question the validity of this Order and an interested person means an individual who lives in the restricted area or who regularly works in or visits that area. Any such interested person may apply to the High Court within six weeks from the date on which this Order was made on the grounds that the Council did not have the power to make the Order or to include particular prohibitions or requirements imposed by the Order or that a requirement under Chapter 2 of the Act was not complied with in relation to this Order

  22. Schedule

  23. Definition of Motor Vehicle:
    1. In this Order, the term 'motor vehicle' means a mechanically propelled vehicle, intended or adapted for use on roads.
  24. Definition of an authorised person:
    1.        In this Order "authorised person" means a person authorised for the purposes of this section by the local authority that made the Order.
  25. Description of prohibited activities:
    • Doughnutting - driving around in a repetitive manner, for example in a figure of eight at the central reservations.
    • Hand brake turns - using the handbrake to tum the vehicle.
    • Drifting - use of the accelerator when going into a bend causing the tail end of the vehicle to slide.
    • Wheel spins -
      1. (1) use of the accelerator when the vehicle is stationary and before releasing the handbrake causing the wheels of the car to spin and noise and/or smoke to be produced. Or
      2. (2) accelerating at speed which causes the wheels of the vehicle to spin in a manner a competent driver would expect not to happen in the normal course of driving.
    • Wheelies - A trick or manoeuvre whereby a motorcycle or other motor vehicle is ridden for a short distance with the front wheel or wheels raised off the ground.
    • Unnecessary revving- revving of a motor vehicle's engine causing or being likely to cause nuisance to a person in the locality of the restricted area.
Last modified on 02 June 2026