News

Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) for Pill

Newport City Council is to consider implementing a public space protection order (PSPO) in the Pillgwenlly area of the city at its meeting later this month, following a detailed review by Scrutiny Committee and a thorough public consultation.

The PSPO is intended to prevent individuals or groups committing specific acts of anti-social behaviour in public places where they cause a nuisance to the local community and disturb local people’s quality of life.

Councillors will be asked to formally agree to adopt the order at a meeting of full Council on Tuesday 25 July.

The PSPO will provide police officers and police community support officers with additional criminal enforcement powers to deal with specific incidents of anti-social behaviour in Pill.

The council created and implemented a PSPO in November 2015 in the city centre area of Newport, at the request of Gwent Police, and this has already produced positive changes.

A breach of the order is a criminal offence and can be dealt with by issuing a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) of up to £100 or a fine of up to £1,000 on prosecution through the courts.

Three potential control measures being considered for the Pillgwenlly PSPO include:

1. A ban on drinking alcohol in public, which replicates the existing ban in the city centre. Police officers and PCSOs will be empowered to stop people drinking alcohol and require them to hand over any bottles and cans to prevent public nuisance or disorder.

2. A power for Police officers and PCSOs to disperse groups of three or more persons if they are causing trouble.

3. A ban on any person having in their possession, selling or supplying any other intoxicating substance (ie. “legal highs”).

Councillor Ray Truman, Cabinet Member for Licensing and Regulation, said he hoped colleagues will support the PSPO for Pillgwenlly area of the city.

“We know we have the support of Gwent Police and ward councillors for this order to be implemented. Once agreed it will benefit the neighbourhood of Pillgwenlly and residents will feel more secure knowing that the Police can disperse gangs of people and confiscate alcohol if necessary.

“The city centre PSPO has been a success and we hope this will be repeated in Pillgwenlly,” said Cllr Truman.

Gwent Police Inspector Paul Davies who is the lead for Pill Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “Gwent Police works hard with all our partners to help improve the image of Pill for visitors and importantly to ensure the quality of life for residents living in Pill.

“We deal with a broad range of issues that are presented to us on a daily basis. Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs) are intended to deal with nuisance or problems in a particular area that are detrimental to the local community by imposing conditions which apply to everyone so that the majority of law-abiding people can use and enjoy our public spaces and be safe from anti-social behaviour.

“This order is one of a range of measures that can be used to educate and, if necessary, prosecute the minority of persons who cause offence. We know that these Public Space Protection Orders have had successful results in other areas of Newport and wider Gwent and we’re committed to working together to produce the same results in Pill.”