Council to introduce new powers to tackle anti-social behaviour "as soon as possible"
NEW powers to tackle anti-social behaviour across Christchurch, Bournemouth and Poole will be introduced “as soon as possible”, BCP Council has said.
Plans for a conurbation-wide public spaces protection order (PSPO) were first progressed by the former Unity Alliance administration last summer, writes Josh Wright of the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
These have yet to be progressed since the Conservative group took control in October but its cabinet member for community safety has said consultation is expected to begin next month.
Work to put together the PSPO was carried out last summer in response to the “significant” problems, such as crowds and traffic, faced after the end of the first lockdown and concerns the council had “insufficient” powers to deal with them.
In September, the Unity Alliance cabinet gave the go-ahead for a consultation on a new-area public spaces protection order which included powers to tackle unauthorised camping on public land.
But the opposition group’s leader, Cllr Vikki Slade, raised concerns about a lack of progress since the change in administration.
“[This summer] could be an even more busy summer than 2020. People are now anticipating a British holiday,” she said.
“The claims last year was that we were not prepared – and who could be? But that doesn’t apply this year.
“If they [the Conservative administration] are genuinely committed to transparency and consultation they should put their plan through scrutiny and challenge.”
In response, the Tory cabinet member for community safety, Cllr May Haines, said the consultation was expected to start next month.
She added that it was the council’s aim to complete this and bring back the issue to the cabinet for approval of the new PSPO “before the summer”.
“We are progressing with plans for a consistent and balanced approach to tackling street-based anti-social behaviour in our communities,” she said.
“Aiming to improve safety, these plans will include our future approach to implementing the PSPO in the conurbation.”
