Agenda item

The Cabinet Member for Licensing and Regulation presented the report to Council.

A Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) was designed to prevent individuals or groups committing anti-social behaviour in a public space. They could be used implement restrictions where the behaviour was having, or is likely to have, a detrimental effect on the quality of life of those in the locality; and the behaviour was, or was likely to be, persistent or continuing in nature.

Only the Council could make a PSPO, but they could be enforced by Gwent Police and Council Officers.

The PSPO before Council today would be the second PSPO to be implemented within the Pill Ward. The previous PSPO expired in July 2020 and contained three restrictions. This new PSPO implemented an increased number of restrictions that were specifically targeted at addressing Anti-Social Behaviour in the defined area.

Anti-social behaviour was being experienced in Pill, to the detriment of its residents. The previous PSPO was limited in its application and use. Through close working between the Council and Gwent Police, it was proposed that the Council implement a new PSPO to provide additional and relevant enforcement powers to Gwent Police and Council staff to help deal with the issues residents were experiencing.

A public consultation exercise ran for one month in March 2021 and was responded to by over 150 individuals and organisations. Almost all of these responses were from people who lived or worked in Pill. The public consultation was overwhelmingly supportive of the restrictions within the new PSPO.

The Oversight and Scrutiny Management Committee oversaw the drafting and consultation process for this new PSPO and also reviewed the outcomes of the consultation. In its April meeting, the Committee recommended that the Council adopted the PSPO.

At the request of the Police, the Scrutiny Management Committee recommended that Prohibition 8 should be removed from the draft Order that was the subject of public consultation. In the light of the subsequent objections however, that were received from the local community about the removal of this measure and the widespread public support for the restriction of “kerb-crawling”, it was recommended that the draft PSPO set out in Appendix A to the report be amended to include an additional prohibition number 8

“No person shall enter the restricted area and attempt to buy sexual services from another person”

Subject to this amendment,  the Cabinet Member moved that the Council formally approves and adopts the new Pill PSPO as set out in the Report

Councillor I Hayat thanked Cllr Truman and considered that it was vital to have this in place.  This PSPO with additions would help the police.  Pill was a multi ethnic and diverse place that welcomed people to invest within the ward therefore Councillor I Hayat fully supported the report.

Councillor Lacey as Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee, advised that cross party discussion took place and the recommendations were carefully considered and therefore fully supported the amendment.

Councillor Holyoake, referred to  the safe houses proposed in 2015 which residents and councillor  objected to, but it took place anyway.  Councillor Holyoake and her ward colleagues fought to right this wrong.  This had encouraged deviancy and sex work to take place, especially during the past year with the pandemic, also causing anti-social behaviour.  Pill had the second highest crime rate ward in Newport.  There had been positive intervention from the Police with multiple arrests, leading to hefty fines and criminal convictions. The PSPO would give police and wardens the power to act accordingly if this is seen on the streets.  This would give residents the right to feel free and protected.  Councillor Holyoake therefore fully supported the PSPO.

Councillor M Evans mentioned that residents and businesses alike were affected by this and that no woman should feel unsafe and welcomed tougher action.  Aggressive begging was on the increase and the Council should have a complete ban on this in the city centre and Pill.  Councillor M Evans supported the report.

Councillor Whitehead suggested that the visual presence of police was important.  Another concern was the grenade effect of a PSPO.  Councillor Whitehead sympathised with the residents of Pill, some of whom had moved away from the area.

Councillor Harvey fully supported the report saying that the residents and local ward members needed this PSPO.

The Leader thanked all partners and stakeholders for their contribution towards the PSPO and mentioned that a significant amount of work went into this.  It was important to recognise the concern of displacement and importance of partnership working.  This report ensured a range of tools to address and the challenges.  People should not have to tolerate this kind of behaviour on their doorsteps.  The Leader referred to correspondence received by residents, the most difficult to read was from one of the high schools where a pupil was repeatedly late to school because of the nocturnal activities going on outside her house every night.  All residents should feel safe and children should sleep at night to attend school.

Councillor Truman thanked all those who spoke in support of the report and moved the report.

Agreed:

That the Council adopts and implements the Pill PSPO (2021- 2024).