Councillor Sally Haydon (Cabinet Member for Community Safety, Libraries, Events, Cemeteries & Crematoria) introduced the Proposed Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) for the management of anti-social behaviour in designated Plymouth City Council Car parks report.

Matt Garrett (Service Director for Community Connections) and Tracey Naismith (Head of Community Safety) will also be in attendance.

The report requested the implementation of a new Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) for a period of 3 years in nine council-owned car parks across Plymouth. These locations had experienced a sustained increase in anti-social behaviour (ASB), resulting in heightened safety concerns, a rise in complaints to both the Council and Devon and Cornwall Police, and reports from members of the public and local business owners indicating that they no longer feel safe using these facilities.

Decision

Cabinet agreed this proposal and supported the making and implementation of the PSPO with the suggested prohibitions.

Reasons for decision

PSPO’s are designed to empower local authorities to deal with anti-social behaviour that adversely affects other people using public spaces. In this case the introduction of a PSPO is a reasonable, legal and proportionate response to ongoing anti-social behaviour. It would increase feelings of public safety and support our police colleagues in tackling behaviours that are persistent and detrimental to residents. The proposed prohibitions are measured and considered and suitably justify the restrictions imposed by the notice.

Alternative options considered and rejected

Cabinet considered the alternative options as set out in the report