Nottingham City Council has approved plans to introduce a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) to restrict access to part of an alleyway in the city centre after evidence of crime, anti-social behaviour and environmental issues in the area.
The decision authorises the closure of a section of Norfolk Place, an alleyway linking Upper Parliament Street and Long Row near Old Market Square, for a period of three years.
The alleyway that can easily be missed, is between Five Guys and the former Debenhams on Long Row.
The order will allow gates and signage to be installed to restrict access to a 22-metre stretch of the route, with keys held by the council and Nottinghamshire Police.
The council said it was satisfied the legal test under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 had been met, meaning activities in the area had a detrimental and persistent impact on the quality of life for people nearby and justified restrictions on access.
Norfolk Place is an adopted highway which provides vehicle access to businesses from Upper Parliament Street and pedestrian access from Long Row. However, the section proposed for closure is narrow, poorly lit and partially obstructed, and does not provide essential access to adjacent premises.
The council’s report states the alleyway has historically been associated with drug use and dealing, alongside other anti-social behaviour including street drinking, littering, fly-tipping, urination and defecation.
Crime data included in the decision shows incidents recorded in and around Norfolk Place and nearby areas. Between November 2023 and October 2024, one offence – theft of a cycle – was recorded in Norfolk Place, rising to multiple offences between November 2024 and October 2025, including two assaults causing injury, possession of a bladed article and possession of cannabis.
Data linked to the nearby former Debenhams building shows further offences including sexual assaults, possession of weapons, violence against the person and public order offences across the same periods.
Wider figures for Old Market Square highlight the scale of activity in the surrounding area. Between November 2023 and October 2024, 291 crimes were recorded, including 81 offences of violence against the person, 77 thefts, 51 public order offences and 39 drug offences. In the following 12 months, drug offences rose to 48, possession of weapons increased to 12 and theft rose slightly to 78, while public order offences fell to 46.
Anti-social behaviour reports also show a mixed picture. Norfolk Place itself saw one reported incident between November 2023 and October 2024 and none in the following year, while incidents linked to the Debenhams site increased from four to 15 over the same periods. Across Old Market Square, reported incidents rose from 63 to 70.
The council said the alleyway’s layout and secluded nature allowed people to congregate and carry out activity away from public view, contributing to ongoing problems despite previous enforcement action and policing operations in the area.
A public consultation carried out between January and February 2026 attracted 80 responses, with the majority supporting the proposal. Respondents cited concerns about safety, drug use and the condition of the alleyway, with some saying they avoided using it due to fear of crime.
Some objections were raised, including suggestions that alternative measures such as CCTV or increased support for homelessness and addiction should be prioritised. The council said there is already camera coverage at the entrances to the alleyway and pointed to existing support services and enforcement activity.
The report notes that closing the alleyway is intended to prevent people gathering in the space to commit offences or anti-social behaviour, rather than displacing legitimate use, with alternative routes available nearby via King Street and Market Street.
The scheme will cost £4,520 and will be funded through a Police Hotspot Action Fund grant aimed at reducing anti-social behaviour.
Under the order, entering the restricted section without authorisation or failing to comply with its conditions could result in a fixed penalty notice of £100, reduced to £50 if paid within 10 days, or a fine of up to £1,000 if prosecuted.
The decision is subject to call-in until early April, after which the council can proceed with implementing the PSPO, including installing gates and signage in line with legal requirements.
