Fines for nuisance behaviour extended

FINING people for drinking, inhaling laughing gas and off-road biking isn’t a “silver bullet” to tackling the behaviours in public spaces, a council meeting was told - but it will help.

Coventry City Council’s Cabinet approved the extension of a Public Space Protection Order first introduced in 2017.

The original order would have been due to expire in October 2020, Cllr Abdul Khan, Cabinet member for policing and equalities, said.

Councillors voted to extend the PSPO for a further three years.

Liam Nagle, community safety officer, told the virtual Cabinet meeting: “PSPOS are very useful to officers but they are not a silver bullet. They are part of a toolkit we use to address various behaviours.”

As reported, three types of behaviour are covered by the PSPO: unlawful use of off-road motorcycles, drinking and inhaling nitrous oxide, or laughing gas.

Persistent offenders can be fined £100, to be reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days.

The renewal of the order was backed by West Midlands Police.

Chief Inspector Suraya Latif said: “It’s really important that we understand that tickets and prosecutions [for these behaviours] are not the only measure of success.

“Officers use the powers to deescalate and the majority of people follow directions and do not need to move to other enforcement.”

Reassurance was also given over residents’ concerns that the PSPO could simply move nuisance behaviour to other areas.

Cllr Mal Mutton asked if there had been any evidence of displacement.

She added: “That has been a concern to some residents, that we move them on from one place and they carry on in another outside the exclusion zone.”

Mr Nagle replied that the PSPO covers all of the city.

He added: “This is something we are mindful of and we try to be pragmatic. We do try not to displace it and deal with it as we can.”