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Due to essential maintenance some of our forms and interactive services such as waste and recycling, complaints, street cleansing, parking and planning will not be available from 8am on Saturday 9 November 2024 to Monday 11 November 2024. We apologise for any inconvenience.

Advice for businesses in Basingstoke Town Centre

A quick guide to reporting common incidents and issues. Aimed primarily at businesses in the Top of the Town, as those in Festival Place and the Malls may have different reporting processes depending on the type of incident.

A person or group being aggressive

If it looks like the situation could escalate to a violent incident, please contact the police immediately on 999.

A person or group drinking alcohol

An alcohol related Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) is in place in Basingstoke Town Centre and some other surrounding areas. View the map of the full area

The order makes it an offence to drink alcohol after being requested by an authorised officer not to do so. Authorised council officers and police constables can request individuals to stop drinking and surrender any alcohol in their possession including any opened or sealed containers. If they fail to comply with the request, they commit a criminal offence.

This does not prevent members of the public drinking responsibly for example, as part of a picnic or with friends. It is aimed at those who are causing a nuisance which may prevent the enjoyment of the public spaces by others.

If you find a person or group drinking alcohol in public and involved in antisocial behaviour, please contact the police on 101.

A person or group involved in antisocial behaviour

Including individuals or groups being rowdy and intimidating, playing football in a shopping area and dangerous cycling.

If you find a person or group involved in antisocial behaviour, please contact the police on 101.

Begging

It is an offence to beg in a public place and offenders can be arrested and prosecuted. If you find a person begging, please contact the police on 101.

Busking

Busking is not illegal. Donations to buskers are given on a voluntary basis but buskers wishing to sell items, such as CDs and memorabilia, will require Street Trading Consent.

If the person or group busking is making excessive noise, please ask them to turn the volume down or to move to another location. If you have done this and they have failed to comply with your request, please contact us on 01256 844844.

Criminal Damage / Graffiti

Includes smashing windows, damaging doors and vandalising vehicles.

Report criminal damage by contacting the police on 101, but if the perpetrators are still at the scene, please contact them immediately on 999.

Report graffiti on our website. There may be a charge to remove graffiti from privately owned property.

Discarded bedding

If you find bedding, such as blankets, duvets and pillows, lying around, please contact us on 01256 844844.

Dog fouling

Dog mess can be put in any of the litter bins in Basingstoke Town Centre. If you find dog mess on the street or see someone not picking up after their dog, please report it online.

Faulty road or footpath

If you find a problem with a road or footpath, such as a pothole or uneven paving, please report it to Hampshire County Council

Faulty street lighting

If you find a faulty street light please report it to Hampshire County Council

Fly-posting

A landowner must give permission before a poster can be fixed to their property. If you find fly-posting, please report it to us online.

If you witness a person in the act of fly-posting, please contact us immediately on 01256 844844.

Fly-tipping

Is the illegal dumping of waste and large items, such sofas, TVs and mattresses.

If you find a fly-tip, please report it online. If you witness a person fly-tipping, please try to make a note of some details of the incident if it is safe to do so, and contact us immediately on 01256 844844.

Illegal drugs

If you find any illegal drugs, please contact the police on 101.

Illegal drug dealing

If you witness or suspect a person or a group dealing illegal drugs, please contact the police on 101.

Illegal drug taking

If you find a person or group taking any illegal drugs, please contact the police on 101. If the person taking drugs requires urgent medical assistance, please also contact the ambulance service on 999.

Illegal drugs paraphernalia

There are several hazards associated with handling drugs paraphernalia, such as needles and syringes.

If you discover any of these items please contact us immediately on 01256 844844 to have it removed .

Litter

If you find litter on the street, especially dangerous litter, such as broken glass, or see a person littering, please report it online.

Overflowing litter bin

Litter bins in Basingstoke Town Centre are emptied daily. If you spot a litter bin which hasn’t been emptied please report it online.

Rough sleeping

If you find a person sleeping rough, please contact Streetlink online to provide them with support. You will need to register on the Streetlink website first.

If you would like to provide further help to those sleeping rough, visit the council’s Real Change Not Loose Change webpage.

Street charity collections

Any person or group wishing to collect money in Basingstoke Town Centre, or any other public place within the borough, for the benefit of a charity must obtain a Street Collection Permit from Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council.

Collecting money without a permit is an offence and offenders can be prosecuted. No charity collections are permitted in the Top of the Town on Wednesdays or Saturdays or on any other days when market events are held.

The council does not issue permits to collect money in Festival Place or The Malls, as these shopping centres are privately owned. In such cases, permission is required from the relevant site management company.

If you have any concerns about a person or group collecting money for a charity, please contact us on 01256 844844.

Street trading

Any person wishing to sell items on the street must first obtain Street Trading Consent from the council. Street trading without consent is an offence and offenders can be prosecuted.

If you find a person street trading without consent, please contact Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council on 01256 844844.

Pedlars do not require Street Trading Consent but must obtain a license from the police. A pedlar can sell goods but not food or drink. A pedlar’s stand must be on wheels and cannot remain in the same location for more than 20 minutes. If you have any concerns about a pedlar, please contact us on 01256 844844.

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