A NEW policy is set to be put in place by Reading Borough Council aimed at tackling antisocial behaviour in the borough next week.
The Public Spaces Protection Order is set to see new powers available to the council to prevent a number of issues including street drinking, e-bikes and e-scooters, dog control, and begging.
The Policy Committee is set to approve the PSPO at a meeting next week, following a consultation period held by the Community Safety Partnership this summer.
They are set to agree that those breaching the PSPO will incur a fixed penalty notice (FPN) of £100 as an alternative to prosecution, which carries a maximum fine of £1,000.
However councillors say that the PSPO is intended to be a preventative measure, providing enforcing officers the ability to request the behaviour be stopped before a breach occurs.
An FPN will only be issued if an individual continues to breach the order after being asked to stop by an authorised officer.
The policy will initially be implemented through engagement and education, as well as signposting of relevant services for vulnerable people, such as people rough sleeping or those with addiction issues.
If agreed, the PSPO is set to be implemented in March next year with a ‘soft launch’ phase, followed by full implementation later that month.
The public consultation showed that 88% respondents supported proposed conditions set out by the council.
Under the proposals, no person will be permitted to beg at any time; the act of begging is deemed as either approaching people for money, or being stationary and directly asking for money, or positioned on the floor to invite the offer of money or goods.
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.
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.
A person in charge of a dog shall be guilty of an offence if, at any time, on any land to which the order applies, 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.
No person shall ride or operate an electric scooter or any type of electric bike within the defined area in an anti-social manner, where they act in a malicious or dangerous manner in a public place and cause significant harassment, alarm or distress to any person within the borough.
Any person doing so may be subject to enforcement and, if requested by a police officer, the rider must dismount.
While the council “fully encourages” the use of e-bikes, it says the focus of the PSPO is in protecting residents from the behaviour of the small number of individuals who insist on riding electric vehicle transport in an anti-social manner.
PSPOs are a suite of powers that can be given to the police and local authorities to address anti-social behaviour in a public space.
They are intended to be a useful and valuable tool for enforcement to improve the quality of life in communities by restricting or prohibiting certain activities which can cause the public significant alarm, harassment or distress.
PSPOs are specifically council-led whilst designating the powers to responsible agencies to apply those powers, focusing on the identified problem behaviour in a specific location rather than on specific individuals or properties.
The legislation applies to everyone in that locality and breach of a PSPO without a reasonable excuse or exemption is an offence.
Karen Rowland, Chair – Community Safety Partnership and Lead Councillor for Environmental Services and Community Safety, said: “I’m pleased that so many residents engaged with this process to let us know they wanted more powers to tackle anti-social behaviour.
“Street drinking and begging, dog fouling and proper dog control, along with the aggravated mis-use of electric bikes and electric scooters are all issues that are substantially upsetting residents and affecting their quality of life.
“As such, that is why this PSPO is necessary.”
She explained: “As a Council we actively encourage and support sustainable travel, and the responsible use of legal electric bikes is a great example of the way our community embraces an improved environment for us all.
“However, wherein a small cohort utilise electric powered cycles or scooters in a manner that causes distress or alarm to the general public, this PSPO will be a vital means to engage with, and to thwart, that behaviour.
“The PSPO is a useful tool to allow officers the powers they need to halt the worst of anti-social misbehaviour that causes residents undue anxiety, nuisance or distress.
“However, the powers will not be used without discretion of application and in the case of vulnerable individuals who offend, enforcing officers will be required to signpost them to relevant support services to help them find positive solutions.”
Superintendent Colin Hudson, Commander for Reading Local Policing Area, said: “Thames Valley Police are committed to working as part of the Community Safety Partnership to make Reading a safe place to live and work.
“We know from results in other areas that measures such as those proposed can support this work and make a difference to communities.
“I’m encouraged that responses from the public in Reading have been so positive and look forward to working towards the next steps together.”
A full copy of the proposals are available to view via: reading.moderngov.co.uk
