Wiltshire Council is considering a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) in Chippenham town centre, pictured. The council says it’s to address issues in the town centre and John Coles Park. It’s proposed to prohibit the drinking of alcohol or having open containers of alcohol (to enable designated officers to seize any alcohol found on a person in the specified area); anti-social behaviour (ASB) caused by groups (officers would have the power to ask groups of being anti-social to disperse and not return to the area for up to 48 hours); controlled drugs or other psychoactive substances; and urinating or defecating in a public place.
Anyone found in breach of the PSPO could be issued with an on-the-spot fine (fixed penalty notice, FPN, in local government jargon) of £100. A consultation runs from January 20 to March 2.
What they say
Dominic Muns, Wiltshire Cabinet Member for Environment, said: “We have put PSPOs in place in Devizes and Salisbury within the last year and we are pleased that these are having a positive impact on the ASB that was being experienced by residents in those areas. So far, the police have issued multiple FPNs to offenders and have received positive feedback from communities including Salisbury BID [business improvement district]. With our partners in Wiltshire Police and Chippenham Town Council now reporting that similar issues are being experienced in Chippenham, we feel that now is an appropriate time to consider another PSPO for Wiltshire.
“I’d like to assure people that Wiltshire remains a very safe and welcoming county, however, safeguarding our residents is a key priority for us in our business plan. As we consider the introduction of a PSPO in Chippenham, our local residents, business owners and visitors can feel reassured that we are taking these issues seriously.
Nuneaton order
Meanwhile, Warwickshire Police have welcomed a PSPO by Nuneaton and Bedworth Council, covering the two town centres that came into force last week. It prohibits non-religious face coverings, and anyone riding bikes, scooters, or skateboards in a malicious or dangerous manner. Insp Ryan Walker of Nuneaton and Bedworth Safer Neighbourhood Team said: “Our town centres should be the foundations of our communities, and over the years our communities have lost confidence in them.
“There is no good reason for people to wear masks in our town centres. There is no good reason for people to hurtle through on the backs of bikes and scooters, risking the safety of others. There is no good reason that groups of people should be intimidating others, spoiling their day in the town.
“This Public Space Protection Order, which is being brought into place by our local authority, is one big step in the right direction to tackle these issues and restore that confidence. It’s not the last step by any means, and we will continue working to make our town centres a good place for everyone to be.”
Salford City Council is consulting about a proposed extending of a PSPO in Salford Quays for a further three years. For years, the council says, the Salford Quays area has had issues of anti-social behaviour (ASB) including the quays, basins and canals. This mainly occurs in good weather. A Local Partnership Delivery group has a plan in place each year to address these issues alongside other issues of water safety.
Car meets
Erewash Borough Council in Derbyshire is proposing a PSPO against secretly-arranged “car meets” – often attended by spectators – are usually at weekends late at night. Residents near the hotspot of Chalons Way said they were scared to use the road in case of crashes. Children had been kept awake by the racket from revving engines and squealing tyres, locals complained. A video was posted online taken from a bridge over the 40mph dual carriageway that showed a BMW performing “donut” stunts as it circled a roundabout, pursued by a police van. Another video, posted on YouTube, showed dozens of drivers revving their engines nearby on Manners Industrial Estate in Ilkeston. The clip was billed as a “Forza Nottingham Car Meet”.
While police have powers to seize vehicles being driven anti-socially, drivers must first be given a roadside warning – meaning they can zoom off as in the BMW video, the council points out. The £100 fines under the PSPO will be sent by first class mail to the registered keepers of vehicles when evidence of the anti-social behaviour is gleaned – either from police videos or footage taken by members of the public. Penalties can rise to £1,000 if the case goes to court.
A report to councillors stressed that the PSPO is backed by Derbyshire Police as an extra tool for keeping order. Police who will be mainly responsible for enforcement once signs have gone up. Erewash’s Deputy Leader, Becca Everett, who is Lead Member for Community Engagement, said: “Residents have had enough of this anti-social behaviour. It is clear from the consultation that the action by the council is fully supported – and we welcome plans by the Government to give police even more powers to tackle this kind of issue.”
Welsh town
Gwynedd Council has amended a PSPO covering the coastal town of Criccieth which will remain in place until August 2027. North Wales Police District Inspector Iwan Jones said: “A lot of work has been done recently between police and partners to create a problem orientated policing plan which has secured youth intervention work alongside our Design Out Crime officer reviewing community safety measures.
“PSPOs are a crucial tool for policing and have previously proven to deter incidents of antisocial behaviour. We hope that we will not have to utilise the PSPO powers. However, we will continue to work with the local council to remain vigilant to any anti-social behaviour issues and take action on any breaches of the order.”
A further round-up on this link: https://professionalsecurity.co.uk/news/case-studies/pspo-latest-leicester/.
