Residents back new measures to stamp out anti-social behaviour at Portsmouth parks

Public defecation, urination, fighting, threatening behaviour and alcohol-related disorder are among the litany of anti-social offences residents have faced in Portsmouth parks.

But tough new measures could be brought in to curb unruly behaviour that is casting a shadow over the use of green spaces.

Portsmouth City Council is asking for public views on whether a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) should be introduced at both Waverley Gardens and Wimbledon parks in Southsea.

Over three years, there have been 64 alcohol-related incidents, alongside noise complaints and environmental damage, with residents reporting feeling unsafe and unable to enjoy the parks both located in St Jude ward in Southsea.

The proposed order would ban drinking alcohol in the designated areas, alongside restrictions on loud music and public urination.

PSPOs are designed to ensure public spaces “can be enjoyed by everyone, free from anti-social behaviour”. The council says it already deploys community wardens across key parts of the city to “keep residents safe and supported”.

If introduced, police and community wardens would be able to move people on where necessary, with fines of up to £100 in some cases.

In late March, Denise Perry, then a community campaigner and newly elected councillor for St Jude ward, raised residents’ concerns at a council meeting, saying many felt “intimidated” walking past groups lingering in the parks.

The area is home to supported housing schemes for people with drug and alcohol addiction issues, with residents believing this also contributes towards the issue. Cllr Perry said she had surveyed 200 local residents, with a majority backing a public consultation.

Cllr Charlotte Gerada said she’s received “considerable casework” over the last three years in relation to anti-social behaviour in the parks – despite it not being in her ward.

She added that while she understands supported housing residents need somewhere to live and socialise, “taking drugs and drinking, getting into fights and brawls does not help their recovery or assimilation into community life”.

She feels that, for many years, there has been an “imbalance” of a minority of residents “creating a disproportionate amount of crime and ASB.”

Recounting one of her own experiences at the park, Cllr Gerada suggested a dog owner muzzle their dog after it attacked her French bulldog, which resulted in “a round of abuse hurled at me with expletives I won’t repeat”.

She learned that there was little the police could do to address the situation without a PSPO.

The councillor said that, given her experience, she can sympathise with local residents living in the areas and the impact on their lives.

Residents who spoke to The News were in favour of the move too. Tony Parrack, 62, was playing basketball in Wimbledon Gardens close to a wall with “MS-13” plastered across it in graffiti - the name of the international criminal gang that originated in America.

“I couldn’t believe it when I heard this park was on the news. It’s a good park for me when I come in the morning. It seems like it is underused but maybe it’s a kids place in the evening. I pick up a lot of litter and bottles,” he said.

“I think having the protection order will help some people but not others. You can take the animal out of the jungle but you can’t take the jungle out of the animal. Some kids are too feral.”

Lori Boswell, 68, said she was “definitely up” for (the PSPO) despite reporting there had been “no issues for me” at the park recently. “It’s a nice little park and I’ve not seen any trouble here for a while but it goes up and down and has been quite bad in the past,” she said.

“There’s lots of HMOs nearby and there was a murder nearby 20 years ago. The park is locked at night as there are some people who can be a nuisance but Waverley Gardens is worse for having problems. You have similar problems at other parks across the city, such as Canoe Lake recently.”

Located by Southsea Beach, Canoe Lake is a popular spot to visit and despite its seeming tranquilness it has also been hit by a variety of troubles. Last month Portsmouth’s Sikh community was forced to apologise to the city after “out of towners” left a mess at a festival there.

Last September the space also saw a racist attack in which a man was beaten by six unknown males carrying flags in an unprovoked attack.

And in August a swan was killed after children threw sticks and stones at the bird before kicking and jumping on it. Couple Pete and Denise, enjoying a walk at Canoe Lake, thought introducing protection orders in parks was a “good idea”. “The more wardens and police you have the more control you have,” they said. “It’s fairly quiet when we come in the morning but there’s probably more problems in the evening.”

Linda Metcalfe, who works in the Dagistino ice cream van which regularly pitches up at Canoe Lake, said she had “never seen anything bad” at the spot but had witnessed “fisticuffs” once after a row broke out.

She said the area can be littered and grass scored when people have barbecues. The park now has bins positioned across it for such waste.

Graham and Ann Moss, 73 and 70 respectively, said they have a flat in Gunwharf where you see “a lot of security moving people on” causing trouble. “It would help having more wardens but we shouldn’t have to employ them…where are the police?” Graham said.

Ann added: “As a female it is definitely safer with wardens about.”

A disabled resident who lives near Baffins Pond said it was a “nightmare with young kids” in the area. “My car was getting broken into every night so now I just leave it open so they can’t damage the car,” he said.

“There are kids fighting every week and people always park in my disabled spot.”

A police spokesperson said: “We are continuing to engage with Portsmouth City Council as part of their consultation and work in partnership to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour in the city.”

If made, the PSPO would last for up to three years, after which it would expire unless the council decides to extend it following further consultation.

The consultation is open to people who live or work nearby, as well as park users, running from Monday, May 11 until Sunday, June 21 2026.

Councillor Lee Hunt, cabinet member for community safety, leisure and sport, said: “We’d like to hear from anyone with views on this area of Southsea. We have to follow a legal process before a PSPO is put into place, and as part of that we need to ask the public for their feedback. We will consider all responses received very carefully before making a decision.”

Residents can take part in the consultation online at www.research.net/r/PSPO_live