Public consultation over town anti-social behaviour and alcohol-free zone

RESIDENTS are being invited to have their say on anti-social behaviour rules in Loughborough.

The rules, giving the police powers to confiscate alcohol are being reviewed, with residents encouraged to have their say.

Police have seized alcohol more than 1,000 times in the town centre public order area in the last three years.

And 639 people have been warned about anti-social behaviour in the same area, which borders Epinal Way to the west, Station Street to the north, Sparrow Hill to the east and Brown’s Lane to the south.

Charnwood Borough Council and the Community Safety Partnership are consulting with the people of Loughborough about extending the Public Space Protection Order (PSPO).

The six week consultation is up and running until Friday, August 7.

Coun Deborah Taylor, lead member for Communities, Safety and Wellbeing, said: “We are committed to tackling anti-social behaviour and have a focus on reducing alcohol and substance misuse, a public space protection order is one way we can achieve this.

“The powers given to the police under the order are only used if there are concerns about antisocial behaviour.

“It is important for us to understand whether people feel the current PSPO is working and should remain.”

A spokesperson for the borough said: “Under the existing PSPO, the police can ask people to stop drinking alcohol if they are being anti-social or could cause a nuisance to those around them.

“Police have seized alcohol 1,118 times within the PSPO boundaries in the last three years and 639 people have been warned about anti-social behaviour in the area.”

PSPOs must be reviewed every three years, the existing order ends in October 2020.

To have your say go to https://www. charnwood. gov. uk/ pages/ pspoconsult

Hard copies of the consultation can also be requested by emailing community.safety@charnwood.gov.uk or calling 01509 634901.