READING Borough Council has announced that its partnership with Thames Valley Police has brought a new protection order to the borough.
A new Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) has come into effect in what councillors are calling a clampdown on anti-social behaviour.
The order provides additional powers aimed at tackling the specific anti-social behaviours that residents said they wanted to see addressed.
Among the new powers are those given to the council itself to take more action on dog control (including fouling), and tools given to the police to counteract alcohol-related anti-social behaviour, aggressive begging, and e-bikes/e-scooters.
Whilst the PSPO is intended to be a preventative measure, allowing enforcing officers the ability to request the behaviour be stopped before a breach occurs, a fixed penalty notice can also now be issued if an individual continues to breach the order after being asked to stop by an authorised officer.
This would be a fine of £100, as an alternative to prosecution which carries a maximum fine of £1,000.
It focuses on five key conditions of enforcement.
Firstly, a person must not engage in begging in any public place in a manner that is reasonably perceived to be aggressive, intimidating, or causes harassment, alarm or distress.
Secondly, no person shall refuse to stop drinking or refuse to hand over any containers (sealed or unsealed) believed to contain alcohol when required to do so by an authorised officer to prevent nuisance or disorder
Thirdly, a person in charge of a dog will be guilty of an offence should they not pick up after their dog.
Being unaware of the defecation or not having an appropriate means to remove it will not be deemed a reasonable excuse for failing to remove it.
Fourthly, a person in charge of a dog shall be guilty of an offence if at any time they do not comply with a direction given them by an authorised officer of the Council to put and hold the dog on a lead.
Lastly, No person shall ride or operate an electric scooter or any type of electric bike in an anti-social manner which is reckless, malicious or dangerous, or causes significant harassment, alarm or distress to any person.
Any person doing so may be subject to enforcement and, if requested by a police officer, the rider must dismount.
While the council has encouraged the use of electric bikes as a method of sustainable travel, it also seeks to protect others from anti-social and sometimes dangerous use.
Karen Rowland, Chair of the Community Safety Partnership and Lead Councillor for Environmental Services and Community Safety, said: “We know from the consultation which took place last summer that residents are understandably demanding action on things like street drinking, dog fouling and the dangerous use of electric bikes and scooters.
“The introduction of the PSPO today hands additional powers to both the Council and our police colleagues.
“It is a really positive step for residents which hopefully provides some reassurance that we have heard their concerns and are providing Officers the tools needed to act on them. In simple terms, this is about making Reading a more enjoyable place for everyone.
She explained: “We’ve already taken tough action over the last six months to clamp down on mindless littering and fly tipping. Our new trial Environmental Enforcement Partnership has seen over 1,300 fines handed out for these offences that unnecessarily and selfishly impact the enjoyment of our open spaces for others.
“This PSPO is yet another way we can deter the minority from ruining it for everyone else.
“I want to reassure the responsible users of legal e-bikes that we fully support their use of sustainable, active travel around the town for the sake of the environment, and it is only those who use electric powered cycles or scooters in a manner that causes distress or alarm to others who will feel the effect of this PSPO.”
