Fixed Penalties For Anti-Social Behaviour In Areas Of Rhosddu Under New Laws

Wrexham’s first Public Space Protection Order is likely to come into force to tackle anti-social behaviour in areas of Rhosddu.

Back in October Wrexham.com reported a public consultation was to launch regarding the proposed enforcement of a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) at Rhosddu Park and Cemetery.

A PSPO was a power given to local Councils under the new Antisocial Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act in October 2014. The orders’ allow local Councils to put certain conditions on specific areas which are experiencing problems with Crime or Antisocial Behaviour’.

The consultation came off the back of a series of complaints of anti-social behaviour, with parents previously stating that they no longer take their children to the park due to the ongoing issues.

In a report due to go before the Executive Board next week it is noted that: “There were 48 incidents of Anti-Social Behaviour reported to North Wales Police during the six month period prior to September 2015, including drunkenness, rough sleeping, urinating, excrement, drug dealing and abuse, rowdiness, and fighting. Incidents reported to the Council included similar behaviour but also litter, including dog fouling and dogs being out of control.

“The Local Member, Local Community Councillor and MP have also received numerous complaints from the community and experienced some Anti-Social behaviour themselves. The Parks Manager and street scene staff have received reports of littering in the area, including cigarette butts in the Children’s play area.”

Councillor Hugh Jones told Wrexham.com the ‘aim is not to criminalise individuals’ and is ‘the council responding, it is bottom up, this is what the community is experiencing’.

We enquired if there are any other hotspots that could come under such an order, and were told this is the only one. Cllr Jones did say “As with any new legislation we can learn from what is happening in other local authorities, as the first use often gets legal challenges. We will learn from the implementation process so we can do it quicker next time”, being clear there were no other areas being considered he added “it is not to say that as we have it (the new power) that we will use it”.

Up the road in Chester a PSPO made headlines as it was used to target street performers and buskers in the city centre, and although Rhosddu is not famed for such activities we enquired if Wrexham could be using the new laws in such a manner. Cllr Jones indicated such things would not be targeted, saying: “This is aimed at tackling anti-social behaviour. Some behaviour patterns such as busking is seen as anti-social and some see it as life and vibrancy of a particular area. This particular piece of public space has a history associated with rowdiness, dogs, and so on, so therefore we are using this legislation to deal with that.”

In this Tuesday’s Executive Board report it is recommended that members approve proposals to introduce a three year Public Space Protection Order with the for Rhosddu Park and Cemetery, Rhosddu Road as outlined on the above map.

If approved Authorised Council Enforcement, Police Officers and Police Community Support Officers will have the power to issue fixed penalty notice fines to persons breaching the conditions of the order, although the report notes ‘informal warnings will usually be issued on the first occasion’.

A person committing an offence will have 14 days to pay the fixed penalty of £100 (or £75 if paid within 7 days), failing which they may be prosecuted (maximum penalty upon conviction, a fine not exceeding £1000).