To consider a report by the Community Resilience Manager seeking approval for the implementation of two Public Space Protection Orders under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 for St Neots.
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Minutes:
By means of a report by the Head of Community (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Committee considered a proposal for the implementation of two Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) in St Neots under the Anti-Social Behaviour Crime and Policing Act 2014.
The Committee were advised that the Orders were being proposed in response to persistent complaints from residents of ‘boy racers’ congregating and causing alarm, harassment and distress to those in the vicinity and were intended to cover (i) the areas of Riverside Car Park, the Market area and the area in between and (ii) the areas of Little End and Howard Road Industrial Estates and Colmworth Business Park for a three year period from 1st April 2017. Details of the proposed prohibitions contained within these orders were set out in detail at Section 1.2 of the report and provided to Members of the Committee.
Members were informed that consultation had been carried out for a period of 28 days during January and February 2017 within the proposed areas with statutory consultees, identified relevant bodies, residents and businesses and there had been no opposition to the proposal. A supplementary paper outlining the support of the Police and Crime Commissioner to the proposals was also tabled at the meeting (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book). Members were also reminded of the success of the Public Space Protection Order in Huntingdon Town Centre in reducing street drinking within the town.
With regard to the enforcement of the Orders, the Committee were advised that Public Space Protection Orders could be enforced by Officers of the Constabulary as well as delegated Officers of the District Council.
In considering the information within the report, Members commented on the potential for the implementation of these Orders to disperse activity to other parishes within the District and commented on the need to actively communicate with other parishes within the District to manage these risks. In response to which, the Committee were advised that this had been fully considered in the development of the proposals and would continue to be monitored by the area based Problem Solving Groups following the implementation date who would agree further action if required.
With regard to the prohibitions within the Order, comment was made regarding the levels of noise which would be deemed as unreasonable given that there were no limits specified within the Orders. In response to which, the Committee were advised that the regular perpetrators were well aware of the levels of acceptability, however there would be an element of discretion on behalf of the enforcing officers in addressing this issue similar to the Designated Public Protection Order (DPPO) which was in place in St Ives.
In response to a question concerning the enforcement of the Orders, the Committee were advised that having considered the pattern of events following the implementation of the Huntingdon Town Centre PSPO, it was believed that whilst the Orders might be resource intensive initially, through effective publicity and enforcement of the prohibitions within the first few months it was envisaged that demand would subside after the first few months.
In response to a question regarding the size of the areas which the PSPOs would cover and whether these were of a sufficient given the potential for displacement of the existing issues, the Committee were reminded that the Orders were being proposed to tackle an existing issue and that the areas proposed related to crime data and calls for service to Cambridgeshire Constabulary. It was explained that the Orders could be amended at any time, provided the statutory consultation was undertaken and sufficient evidence available to meet the required tests.
In concluding the discussion on this item, the Executive Councillor for Housing and Regulatory Services took the opportunity to remind the Committee that the Orders were being proposed to tackle an existing issue based upon reported crime figures and would enable the District Council to tackle an ongoing issue by a specific group of individuals. He explained that the problems in St Neots centred around specific isolated sites as opposed to residential streets and due to the nature of these it was also considered that displacement would be unlikely, however this would continue to be monitored.
Whereupon, it was unanimously
RESOLVED
that the implementation of two Public Space Protection Orders under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 for the areas of St Neots (as shown in Appendix A and B to the report now submitted) in response to persistent complaints of the anti-social behaviour caused by ‘boy racers’ be approved with effect from 1st April 2017 for a three year period.
Supporting documents: