Exeter crime crackdown to continue

The PSPO has been extended by 2 years

It covers Fore Street, the High Street and Sidwell Street, means consumption of alcohol, along with other anti-social behaviour, can see people dispersed from the area and fined up to £1,000 at court if they return.

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.

Nine people have been arrested since January 2018 for breaching the rules and returning to the PSPO area after officers have dispersed them.

Exeter City Council’s executive committee unanimously agreed that it should carry on in its present form for the next two years.

Cllr Laura Wright, who jointly chaired a PSPO Spotlight Review Group, told the committee that there had a 16 per cent reduction in anti-social behaviour within the area since the introduction of the PSPO.

She added: “There are still challenges and realistically it is fair to say that as quickly as problems are resolved, a new set of challenges can appear – this simply reflects the nature of dealing with anti-social behaviour. Collaborative working through the PSPO initiative has meant these new challenges are being dealt with swiftly and effectively.”

Cllr Rosie Denham said it was great that the PSPO was working, but asked whether there was anything that councillors should be concerned about.

Cllr Wright said: “One area of concern was that moving people out of the designated area could lead to hotspots of trouble in other area and there will always be difficulties as a consequence of dispersals.

“Although planning in respect of the PSPO boundary took into account avoiding dispersals of individuals who would then move to other specific areas, there is no evidence to suggest that dispersed individuals go to specific locations. Most do go home as they live in the city centre although it is recognised that there are a percentage of individuals who are street attached.”

She added that police officers took a gradual approach to enforcement, but since January 2018 there have been nine arrests made when dispersed individuals returned to the PSPO area.

Cllr Wright added: “Breach of the PSPO is not an imprisonable offence and is usually dealt with by the Magistrates’ Court with a fine issued or the initial remand in custody viewed as sufficient punishment.

“The power to seize alcohol is used on a daily basis and is particularly useful in helping to reduce anti-social behaviour, since if individuals are less inebriated they are less abusive and it is far easier to disperse individuals and groups.

“Instances of public urination have reduced with the introduction of the PSPO and the ability to issue fines for this offence means that money generated can go to the Community Safety Partnership and be used to fund anti-social behaviour projects.”

The executive unanimously agreed to continue the existing PSPO for the next two years, after which time, if the council wanted to continue with the PSPO, a fresh consultation would be required as the lifespan of the PSPO would expire.