Have your say on new enforcement powers

Sunderland residents are being asked their views on plans to strengthen citywide enforcement powers on a range of anti-social behaviour issues.

The city council is looking to bolster the powers it currently has available in response to calls for more enforcement action, which was one of the key issues to come out of the local authority’s Let's Talk consultation.

Under the Public Spaces Protection Order introduced in 2019, Sunderland City C ou n c i l a l ready h a s th e power to give advice, formal warnings or issue a £75 fixed penalty notice to anyone breaking the current rules around alcohol control, dog control, the use of legal highs in public places and anti-social behaviour linked to street trading.

C o u n c i l l e a d e r, C l l r Graeme Miller, said: “What came across loud and clear in our Let's Talk consultation is that the environment is a top priority for our residents and that they want to live in a clean green city.

“So this is about focusing on the concerns that we know impact on the quality of life of our residents.

“We really want resi d e nt s to te l l u s i f they're in favour of the current measures and whether th ey wou l d l i ke to see further action to control issues such as dogs on beaches and dog fouling, spitting in public spaces and using motorbikes and quad bikes on footpaths and bridle ways. So I would encourage everyone to have a think about what the issues are in their area and take part in this consultation.”

The online consultation is available at www.sunderland.gov.uk/consultation until January 12.