Wick Woodland & Hackney Marshes Public Space Protection Order (PSPO)

Wick Woodland is an area of woodland to the south of Hackney Marshes.  

Hackney Marshes is internationally known as the spiritual home of Sunday league football, with 82 football, rugby and cricket pitches on North and South Marsh and Mabley Green.

Daubeney Fields is a park in the Kings Park ward of Hackney. The park sits between Daubeney Road and Kingsmead Way in E9 and has views over the Lee Navigation and Hackney Marshes to the east.

Mabley Green was recently transformed from a flat empty green space into an exciting landscaped park. The biggest transformation of the site was the creation of rolling hills and the planting of over 500 trees. These have already dramatically changed the character of the site and will provide valuable habitat for years to come.

Millfields Park is made up of three large open spaces around Lea Bridge and Chatsworth Road framed by avenues of mature plane and elm trees. The Lea Navigation borders the park and links it to Springfield Park to the north and Hackney Marshes to the south.

Complaints raised concerns about large gatherings of sometimes hundreds of individuals, lasting for up to 48 hours, resulting in:

• Noise from amplified music often until and beyond the early hours of the morning (disturbing residents and risking negative impacts on nesting birds and nocturnal wildlife)
• Alleged supply and consumption of illegal drugs 
• Associated littering including empty laughing gas canisters 
• Open fires
• Damage to the ecology through the creation of clearings, removal of newly planted trees and damage to the environment. 

The Council Intelligence Hub conducted a database search to identify and characterise all reported Unlicensed Music Events (UMEs), such as illegal raves. Officer response and enforcement actions taken during these events were confirmed. The location of each UME was analysed to identify recurring areas or specific details of event sites.

Summary of findings:

• Unlicensed Music Events (UMEs) are the main incidents.
• Reports frequently mention responding to calls or patrols related to potential or actual UMEs.
• These events often involve amplified music and gatherings of varying sizes.
• Some reports indicate that police were also involved in addressing these incidents.
• In some instances, officers found no evidence of a UME upon arrival.
• One patrol noted signs of potential occupancy and drug-related items in a woodland area; this was not directly linked to a UME.

Actions taken by officers:

• Setting up or attending events, advising people about unlicensed music and potential consequences such as ASB warnings and equipment confiscation.
• Requests to stop the music and pack up their equipment; in some instances people complied.
• Conducting patrols to check for remnants of the previous night's events or to ensure no new UMEs had started.
• Using discretion where events were deemed to be community-organised and well-managed, even if they initially appeared to be UMEs.

Breakdown of the number of incidents reported per location:

Based on the data available, Mabley Green / Wick Woodland & Homerton Road and Wick Woods Park & open spaces summer patrols had the highest number of reported incidents over the period.

How would the PSPO be enforced?

Those carrying out antisocial behaviour outlined in the PSPO could be liable for an on the spot Fixed Penalty Notice of £100, which would need to be paid in 14 days. Failure to pay the fine could result in prosecution. Fines would only be issued by the police or council enforcement officers and only in relation to the controls set out in the PSPO.

How long would the PSPO last?

We are proposing that the PSPO lasts for three years, at which point we would decide whether to renew it in consultation with residents. This is the maximum period allowed for a PSPO. At the end of this period, we will decide whether to renew it.

Does Hackney already have any other Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs)?

Yes. There is a borough-wide PSPO to tackle dog control and alcohol.

Where can I find more information on PSPOs?

The relevant section of the Antisocial Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 regarding PSPOs can be viewed online.

How will the PSPO be advertised?

There will be signage in place at strategic locations within the area to advise of the order. It will also be published on our website.

How effective have the previous PSPOs been?

The current Wick Woodland PSPO has been in place for three years. In that  time, the number of ASB complaints relating to unauthorised events has reduced significantly, and there have been no complaints received in respect of the operation of the Order. No fixed penalty notices have been issued; to some extent, this is due to the compliance of the individuals when approached by the council and police.

Council and police officers aim to resolve issues proportionately by issuing antisocial behaviour warnings before Fixed Penalty Notices where possible.

What evidence do you have that the proposed PSPO is required in Wick Woodland, Hackney Marshes and surrounding areas?

Previous PSPOs have successfully curbed but not completely stopped the antisocial behaviour in surrounding areas, which is why we are proposing to introduce a new Public Space Protection Order (PSPO).

The Council has received statements of support from residents, partners, user groups and key stakeholders as well as crime data and intelligence records.