Ashfield District Council continue to tackle crime and anti social behaviour

The order has been extended for a further three years and comes after feedback from residents across the district.

An addition to the Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) is the power to ‘move on’ individuals who are behaving anti-socially.

This would enable Ashfield District Council to take preventive or enforcement action with individuals engaging in anti-social behaviour who fail to move on when asked to do so, resulting in a Fixed Penalty Notice being issued or court proceedings.

Having worked in close partnership with Nottinghamshire Police, the ‘direction to move on’ was recommended as an inclusion to this PSPO.

Coun Christian Chapman, portfolio holder for crime prevention and community safety, said: “The council is determined to use all the powers at their disposal to deal with anti-social behaviour and crime.

“This is a huge issue across our District and we will lead the fight against crime and deal with the causes of it.

“It is vital that we continue to have the power to take action on anti-social behaviour issues and the extension of the order will ensure officers can keep public spaces clean and nuisance free.

“By adding the power to move on any trouble-causers, our officers will be able to ensure our town centres are a safe and pleasurable place in which to work, visit and shop.”

The council’s community protection officers, along with the police, will be authorised to take appropriate and proportionate action in relation to this PSPO.

The order comes into force on October 1, and shall have effect for a period of three years, unless extended by further orders.

The PSPO enables the council to take preventive or enforcement action in public places regarding alcohol consumption in a designated area, urinating/defecating within a designated area, dog fouling in specified areas and failing to produce device or other means of removing dog faeces on demand.