Beth Doherty
Following a public consultation on anti-social behaviour in Downton and Redlynch, a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) will be put in place in the area from Summer 2022.
A PSPO is used to help prevent anti-social behaviour in an area. Under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, PSPO’s give local authorities flexible powers to respond to particular issues affecting their communities. In this instance, it is related to the use of catapults, slingshots and similar items capable of launching a projectile which could cause harm or damage.
The consultation ran from 4th May to 15th June 2022 and received more than 120 responses mostly from local residents who confirmed that they were finding the anti-social behaviour a big problem and would be in favour of the PSPO being put in place.
Once a PSPO is brought in, then anyone found in breach of it could be issued with an on-the-spot Fixed Penalty Notice of £100.
Cllr Ian Blair-Pilling, Cabinet Member for Public Protection, said, “We want to thank everyone who responded to the consultation and provided their feedback.
“Putting a Public Spaces Protection Order in place on an area is not ever done lightly, but in this instance the response was overwhelmingly in favour of it being brought in, to try and ease the anti-social behaviour in Downton and Redlynch.
“PSPOs may not always solve a problem completely, but they are a useful tool and deterrent to help combat this type of anti-social behaviour.
“As stated in our Business Plan, we want Wiltshire to be a place where people are safe, and the action we have taken here will support that.”
To find out more about the PSPO for Downton and Redlynch and what would be included in the order click here.
Andy Munns
