Exeter anti-social behaviour order to be extended

Only £5k in fines issued in three years

Fines collected from people breaching a crime crackdown in the centre of Exeter will be ring-fenced to pay for initiatives to address anti-social behaviour.

Exeter City Council’s executive has heard that despite three years of a Public Space Protection Order being in place, anti-social activities it tries to prevent are continuing.

The existing order is set to expire this June, but councillors agreed with police recommendations that it should be extended for another year.

Crimes under the act includes ignoring police requests to stop drinking alcohol or illegal drugs in a public, aggressive begging, urinating in a public place, behaving in an anti-social manner either in a group or alone.

It covers areas including Fore Street, the High Street and Sidwell Street, and anyone breaching the order by consuming alcohol or committing anti-social behaviour, will be dispersed from the area and could faces fines of up to £1,000 at court if they return.

Simon Lane, the service lead for environmental health and community safety, said that anti-social activities are continuing at a level that is unreasonable and justifies the continuing restrictions of the order.

He added: “There is continued justification for the order based using data and intelligence from Devon and Cornwall Police, the council, and the Exeter Community Safety Partnership, together with information from complaints made by the public to the council.

“From this information it is clear that whilst the PSPO has had an impact since its introduction in 2017, the prevalence of persistent and problematic anti-social behaviour continues to be relatively high in the area of the order.”

He added that the number of fixed penalty notices (FPNs) issued and the resultant income, an estimated £5,090 to date, is expected to continue be small, and any income from FPNs will be ring-fenced for use by the Exeter Community Safety Partnership to support community safety initiatives in the city.

From the adoption of the PSPO until the end of 2020, there had been 48 fixed penalty notices issued for street urination, 366 people have been dispersed using the powers, 20 prosecutions have been taken for breaches of the PSPO prohibitions and two caution was also issued for a breach of PSPO prohibition

The powers of surrendering alcohol are used on a daily basis by officers, however records are not kept of the use of this prohibition as most people voluntarily surrender, the meeting heard.

Mr Lane added: “The police reported 2,066 antisocial behaviour logs in the PSPO areas in 2017, 2,036 in 2018, 1,761 in 2019 and 1,867 in 2020 and while this shows a year on year reduction in logs not all concerns are logged with police. It should be noted that despite less footfall in the PSPO area due to covid-19 restrictions, anti-social behaviour reports have not significantly decreased.”

Alison Hernandez. Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly said she supports renewal of the PSPO and that she was assured there was good reason to want to renew the order.

She added: “Last summer, Exeter city centre was one of 20 areas chosen by the police to receive street marshals in a bid to address antisocial behaviour as lockdown restrictions eased. Marshals responded to a number of incidents over the course of their duty, including aggressive begging graffiti and drug related issues.

“I also welcome the proposal that Exeter City Council officers are able to enforce the conditions of the PSPO, should it benefit the experience of local residents and visitors. I further recognize that antisocial conduct can affect the public’s enjoyment of the area, and I therefore welcome the renewal of the PSPO, so that problems can be addressed swiftly.”

Superintendent, Anthony Hart, Commander for the Exeter, East, and Mid Devon LPA, said: “The issues of antisocial behaviour, street drinking, drug-taking, littering and begging have a significantly detrimental effect on those who live in, work in, and visit the city of Exeter.

“The PSPO sends a clear signal that antisocial behaviour is not acceptable to the people of Exeter. The PSPO dispersal power is regularly used and serves to dissipate the impact of groups, acting in a loud and disruptive manner and significantly reduces aggressive begging.

“The PSPO has proven to be a vital tool in preventing and deterring antisocial behaviour and identifying those who require additional help and support, and the PSPO use has helped to promote a more positive environment for our communities at all times of the day and night.”

Cllr Kevin Mitchell, leader of the Progressive Group, said that welcomed the report, and added: “I support the measures that have been in place previously as they have been effective in the past, so I am pleased they will be extended.”

The executive unanimously agreed to recommended to the 23 February full council meeting to renew the PSPO for a further year from June 20, 2021, to authorise staff within the Environmental Health and Community Safety Service to be able to enforce the prohibitions of the PSPO, and that funding received by the council from fixed penalty notices issued for a breach of any PSPO to be ring-fenced for initiatives to address anti-social behaviour.