Ipswich could keep its borough-wide rules on alcohol-related anti-social behaviour for another three years. Ipswich Borough Council’s Executive meets on Tuesday 3 November to consider the proposal. It follows a public consultation in which almost everyone who responded backed the idea.
If approved, the Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) would be extended for a further three years from 18 November 2026.
What the order does, and what it doesn’t
The PSPO does not ban drinking in public places. Instead, it gives police and authorised officers powers to deal with anti-social behaviour linked to alcohol. These include confiscating alcohol and taking enforcement action against people who refuse to stop drinking when asked.
Councillor George Lankester, the Portfolio Holder for Communities at Ipswich Borough Council, stressed the point in his comments on the consultation:
“The consultation results show strong support for keeping these powers in place. The PSPO is not about stopping responsible drinking. It helps police and authorised officers deal with alcohol-related anti-social behaviour and supports our efforts to keep Ipswich safe and welcoming for everyone.”
So if you enjoy a drink in public without causing problems, the order is not aimed at you. Its focus is on situations where behaviour is causing a problem for other people.
What the consultation found
The consultation received 61 responses. They came from residents, employees, business owners and visitors. The results were:
- 98.4% supported extending the PSPO.
- More than 93% believed it would improve people’s experience of Ipswich’s public spaces.
- All respondents supported powers for authorised officers to require people to stop drinking and surrender alcohol where anti-social behaviour is happening.
- 95.1% supported the PSPO applying across the whole borough.
Many respondents said the order would help create a safer, cleaner and more welcoming environment for people who live, work in or visit the town.
Sixty-one responses is a modest number for a town the size of Ipswich. The strength of support among those who did respond is clear, though, and it is now in front of decision-makers.
What happens next
The Executive will consider the consultation results on Tuesday 3 November. It will then decide whether to recommend the proposed three-year extension to full council, which will make the final decision. So the process is not finished yet. The Executive’s meeting is a step towards the final outcome, not the end of it.
The current arrangements would be extended from 18 November 2026 if the proposal is approved.
If you want to see the detail behind the proposal, the report to the Executive is available on the council’s democracy website. You can read the report to Executive online. It is a good place to start if you would like to see how the consultation was run and what the council is being asked to decide.
For anyone who runs a business, works in the town centre or simply uses Ipswich’s public spaces, this is a decision that could affect everyday life, so it is worth keeping an eye on. We will share further news as the proposal moves through the council’s process.
To find out more, read the report to Executive using the link above. You can also contact the council’s press office at press.office@ipswich.gov.uk, or visit www.ipswich.gov.uk.
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