To consider a report by the Community Resilience Manager seeking approval for the implementation of a Public Space Protection Order under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 for an area in St Ives.
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Minutes:
With the assistance of a report by the Community Resilience Manager (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Committee considered a proposal for the implementation of a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) in St Ives under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.
The Committee were advised that the Order was being proposed in response to complaints from residents of ‘boy racers’ causing alarm, harassment and distress to those in the vicinity as well as anti-social behaviour as a result of consuming alcohol and was intended to cover (i) the Quay to the Bus Station and (ii) Warner’s Park for a three year period from 1 January 2020. Details of the proposed prohibitions contained with the order were set out in detail in Section 1.2 of the report and provided to Members of the Committee.
The Committee were informed that complaints regarding the problems associated with ‘boy racers’, anti-social behaviour and alcohol related disorder in St Ives have been reported to both Huntingdonshire District Council and Cambridgeshire County Council for a number of years and Police powers alone have not been capable of adequately addressing the issues. St Ives had previously been covered by a Designated Public Places Order which had been successful in addressing persistent complaints of street drinking, however this had expired in 2016. In terms of more recent issues, it was reported that during the period April to September 2019, a total of 60 incidents of anti-social activity in the St Ives area had been reported to the Police, details of which were outlined within the report at Section 2.4.
Members were informed that consultation had been carried out for a period of 35 days during September and October 2019 within the proposed areas with statutory consultees, identified relevant bodies, residents and businesses and the results suggest that there is overwhelming support for the proposed Order.
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. An assessment of the resourcing requirements had been undertaken and satisfactory resources were considered to be in place to respond to any emerging issues. District Council owned CCTV cameras located in the town would also be used to enforce the prohibitions retrospectively through the use of Fixed Penalty Notices.
In welcoming the proposals as a positive step to try to address the issues associated with ‘boy racers’ and anti-social behaviour within St Ives, the Committee were also pleased to note that this would be the first Public Space Protection Order proposed in Cambridgeshire which related to multiple issues which would send a clear message regarding the District Council’s position.
Having noted that it would be possible to amend the order at any point during the three-year period through a process of consultation, the Committee also commented on the terms of the Order which required a person committing an offence to leave the designated area for a period of 24 hours and the potential implications should this area also include the offender’s home address. Subject to clarification of this issue and the wording within the Order, it was unanimously
RESOLVED
that the implementation of a Public Space Protection Order under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 for the areas of St Ives (as shown in Appendix A and B to the report now submitted) in response to persistent complaints of anti-social behaviour cased by ‘boy racers’ and the consumption of alcohol resulting in anti-social behaviour be approved with effect from 1 January 2020 for a three year period.
Supporting documents: