POOLE council has removed a direct ban on rough sleeping from a revised Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) designed to tackle anti-social behaviour in the town centre.

The borough’s U-turn on the controversial policy has come after weeks of backlash against the way the original PSPO was implemented and the impact it would have on homeless people.

The first order came into force at the start of February, although the decision was made under delegated powers by an officer and without any form of scrutiny process.

Outraged opposition councillors called for the decision to be discussed at committee.

Results from a public consultation on the order carried out in November, which were only published the day the order took effect, showed the majority of people disagreed with the measure to ban rough sleeping.

And a petition against the measure by Poole Labour Party gained more than 3,000 signatures.

The new draft PSPO has been amended to remove the ban on rough sleeping, with a new clause stipulating: ‘Without reasonable excuse no person shall cause an obstruction in any doorway belonging to any retail, licensed or commercial premises or public building, or any car park or public area… or refuse to leave when requested to do so...’

The original clause stated: ‘No person shall bed down with the purpose, or the likely purpose, of sleeping or begging in any doorway… or in any multi-storey car park between the hours of 8am to midnight…’

All other restrictions against begging, drug use, drinking and anti-social behaviour in the town centre have been carried over to the new proposed PSPO.

However, Cllr Mike Brooke said the revised order was “clearly still being directed at rough sleeping”.

“It’s a cynical response to the protests being made. Even if they’re not prohibiting rough sleeping itself, all the activities they’re banning are potentially amounting to harassment of homeless people. Let’s support them without the threat.”

A draft cabinet report by safer communities manager Ian Cooke, who signed off the original PSPO, said the new order “is not intended to target rough sleepers, but it does restrict obstructions being caused by individuals or belongings.”

The ban on rough sleeping conflicted with Home Office guidance on PSPOs, which was updated in December 2017.

The guidance stated they “should not be used to target people based solely on the fact that someone is homeless or rough sleeping”.

However, in his report, Mr Cooke blamed the timing of the guidance’s publication “close to Christmas” as a reason it was not considered in the first drafting of the PSPO.

He said: “Alongside the guidance we have listened to feedback from residents and agency partners which has resulted in a refinement in the new draft order.

“The proposed measures in the PSPO aim to prevent and tackle the identified and reported issues. They are not intended to target any specific group such as the street homeless, and will not be used for this purpose, but will target the behaviour that impacts upon others.”

The proposed PSPO covers the town centre, as well as Poole Quay, Poole Park, Sterte and Tatnam.

Individuals who continue with anti-social behaviour when challenged by police or a council officer may be subject to a fixed penalty notice of £100 or a fine of up to £1,000.