Tough new powers to tackle city’s yobs, drunks and drug use

DISPERSAL ORDER TO FIGHT ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR WILL LAST THREE YEARS

AREQUEST to bolster the powers of police to tackle anti-social behaviour in a city centre has been approved by councillors.

Following a consultation period, Gwynedd Council’s cabinet rubber-stamped a new Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) in Bangor following a rise in the number of complaints regarding anti-social behaviour in and around the city centre.

According to North Wales Police, the existing order was said to be “insufficient to deal with the current issues impacting on local businesses, residents, students and tourists.”

As a result the new order, which will remain in place for three years, is designed to tackle:

● Behaviour in a manner that is likely to cause harassment, alarm, nuisance or distress;

● loitering in a state of intoxication through alcohol or druginduced activity;

● consuming alcohol or being in possession of open containers of alcohol likely to cause or causing anti social behaviour. A Constable or PCSO may require anyone in breach of this condition not to consume alcohol or anything they believe to be alcohol and to surrender any alcohol in their possession;

● and loitering within 10 metres of any cashpoint.

Of the 275 responses to the consultation, the majority supported such action with the report noting, “there is sufficient information to acknowledge that a number of people are concerned about the problem of anti social behaviour in Bangor, and that the support for the order is much greater than any objections”.

According to police, between April 2018 and June 2019 there were 486 incidents of anti-social behaviour and 649 crimes reported in the city.

Cllr Nia Jeffreys, the portfolio holder for legal services, said: “It has been a long process to reach the point and it is no small matter to place such restrictions.

“This has been an application from the police, and we have been back and forth with them several times to agree on the four key points with local members also playing a key role during the process.”

New signage will be put up informing residents and visitors of the new restrictions with police also to play a further role in communicating the new powers to the public.

Further reassurances were given to members that the powers would not be used to “move on” rough sleepers, with police to continue working with homelessness forums.

Inspector Kevin Bratherton from North Wales Police said: “The implementation of a PSPO will be a sustainable three year problem solving approach between partners to reduce the ongoing crime and anti-social behaviour within Bangor City Centre.

“In addition to providing an enforcement option the PSPO will allow early intervention and prevention through engagement and education.”