Cabinet members to discuss Public Spaces Protection Order to tackle anti-social behaviour
Senior councillors
are to decide whether to introduce two new Public Spaces Protection Order
(PSPO) to tackle anti-social behaviour in Castleford and Pontefract town
centres.
The PSPOs will give the Council, in partnership with the police, the ability to
deal with anti-social behaviour which affects the enjoyment of the area by
local residents and visitors and can impact on local businesses.
If approved by the Council’s Cabinet, a PSPO will be introduced in Castleford
town centre and another for Pontefract town centre and Valley Gardens.
Cllr Maureen
Cummings, Cabinet Member for Environment and Communities, said: “Castleford and
Pontefract town centres are great places to come for something to eat, drink
and shop, and Valley Gardens is a beautiful location to walk, relax and play.
It is appalling that the actions of a few are spoiling it, which is why we are
considering a PSPO for these areas. By doing all we can to stop anti-social
behaviour in our town centres will also help us to keep and attract more new
businesses into the areas.
“The introduction of a PSPO in Wakefield city centre and the Pontefract
racecourse area has already had a huge impact. Alcohol has been seized and
Fixed Penalty Notices have been issued by the Council and the Neighbourhood
Policing Team who patrol the area.
“Everyone has the right to feel safe and we’re quite clear - anti-social
behaviour must never be tolerated, that is why we want to use all the powers we
can to tackle this behaviour.”
Inspector Paul Sullivan of the Pontefract, Knottingley and Castleford NPT’s,
said: “My teams have been working closely with Wakefield Council to prepare for
the implementation of these orders which we fully support. We have listened to
the concerns of residents, shopkeepers and people visiting the towns and are
well aware of the impact this has on the area.
“These new powers will give us increased ability to quickly confront and deal
with persons seen drinking alcohol in these zones and we would urge anyone who
sees persons drinking and causing anti-social behaviour in them to contact
their local NPT officers.
“Alcohol related anti-social behaviour is highly detrimental to our town
centres and we will absolutely not accept or tolerate it.”
Inspector Helen Brear of the Wakefield Central NPT, said: “My officers have
been working in close partnership with council colleagues to enforce the
Wakefield zones and we have made hundreds of confiscations over recent months,
and as well as a several arrests for alcohol related offending. We have been
visiting retailers who we suspect of supplying strong, cheap alcohol which ends
up being drunk in the open in the town centres.
“I am grateful for the ongoing support from my local councillors and partners
in addressing these issues.
“I can assure residents that we know who our most prevalent street drinkers are
and are continually pressuring them to get them to change their ways. Only last
week, officers arrested a persistent street drinker for breach of his Criminal
Behaviour Order, and will be prosecuting him to the fullest extent of the law.”
The anti-social behaviour that the PSPO will tackle includes drunken and
intimidating behaviour.
Cabinet members are being recommended to agree for a PSPO to be introduced in
Castleford and Pontefract town centres and Valley Gardens. If approved, those
in breach may be issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice of £100, or a £1,000 fine
if prosecuted by the Courts.
The reports are being discussed at the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday 21 November
at 10.30am. The meeting can be watched live, or later, at www.wakefield.gov.uk/livestream