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As a crackdown on bad behaviour in Preston city centre prepares to come into force then businesses owners have expressed relief on helping the reputation of the city while a charity boss is concerned young people may be unfairly targeted.
The Public Space Protection Order puts a zone in place across the city centre where if a raft of rules are breached people can be fined on the spot.
These include pitching tents, street drinking, begging in an aggressive manner and more.
Read more: Preston’s iconic row of red telephone boxes removed for restoration works
Brought in by Preston City Council the order is legally enforceable by council officers or police officers who can issue fixed penalty notices of £100 for those found to be breaching the order if within the zone covered by it.
The city council say it’s important ‘people in the city centre feel safe to enjoy themselves’.
Cabinet member for environment and community safety, councillor Freddie Bailey, said he was hopeful the new powers would work in making the city a friendlier place to be.
He told Blog Preston: “We will see how it goes and I hope strike a balance between ensuring people feel safe in the city but also that individuals who need help and assistance are getting it.
“We have a good relationship with the police and our council officers will be working closely with them on how we apply the new powers as they come in.”
The Public Space Protection Order is already active but has not been pro-actively enforced until Wednesday (18 December) due to a period where a legal challenge could be issued against it. Blog Preston understands no challenge has been made, which means it will come into force as planned this week.
What are the rules?
The prohibited area, shown on the map below, means no one shall consume alcohol or have an open alcohol container on the streets unless in a lawful premises such as a pub beer garden.
Tents and other temporary structures are banned within the area and music equipment is also banned unless permission has been sought.
The rules also state no urination or defecation, unless in a public toilet, within the zone as well as strict rules prohibiting the use of illegal substances.
See a full breakdown of all the new rules under the public space protection order.
Creating a ‘welcoming and friendly’ place
Mark Whittle from Preston’s Business Improvement District which represents city centre businesses said: “The overall sentiment from the business community is that the PSPO is welcome. Low-level crime and antisocial behaviour has a clear impact on trade, and the desire of customers to want to enjoy and support businesses, and the wider destination.
“Preston is a really welcoming and friendly place – but people who chose to come here to commit offences, or behave in a manner that intimidates others, have to understand the impact that their behaviour has on other people.
“The PSPO, whilst only part of the solutions toolkit, will provide additional powers for the police, and designated officers, to tackle unwanted and antisocial behaviour, providing a better environment for businesses, their teams, and visitors.
“For the PSPO, or any crime prevention tools to work, they need to have appropriate resources to support them. Encouragingly, both the police and city council have confirmed that this is the case in relation to the PSPO.”
Concern city’s most vulnerable may be unfairly penalised
The chief executive of The Foxton, who work with rough sleepers, young people and sex workers in the city, said he was concerned about the potential impact particularly on young people by the new order.
Jeff Marsh, who is due to retire next year, told Blog Preston: “I can understand the reasons for wanting to bring in the Public Space Protection Order and I am concerned about the impact on young people.
“We want them to come into our city centre and feel welcome here. I think we perhaps need to ask ourselves why in fact it is mainly adults involved in anti-social behaviour.
“I saw some figures where only a fifth of incidents of anti-social behaviour relate to young people.
“We need to engage with young people and understand why they might feel the need to commit crimes and also ensure we have good facilities for them in our city centres. It is as much their city as ours.”
Mr Marsh also highlighted the rules around ‘tents pitched in an aggressive manner’ which comes under the new rules.
He said: “We need to be developing proper provision for people who are sleeping rough in the city, not victimising them.
“I think you also need to remember someone who is homeless may pitch a tent but it’s unlikely to be in the middle of Fishergate or the Flag Market. That’s unsafe. Yes people do use tents, to keep warm and dry, but they are more likely to be pitched out of sight.”
Mr Marsh said his sex worker outreach team would also be keeping a close eye on the new orders – as although the area often operated in by prostitutes isn’t covered it runs right up to its border. He said there was a risk, if enforced or the order area extended in future, it would push sex workers into more unsafe areas which had poorer lighting and were not patrolled by outreach teams.
Life on Winckley Street
Marvin Baldwin, owner of Forum bar in Winckley Street, said he was hopeful the new order would help ease some recent issues in the city centre.
He said: “I think if you take each of the issues individually, from homelessness, to street drinking, to anti-social behaviour and what I’d say on the whole is often low-level criminal activity then individually there isn’t the impact.
“But take it cumulatively and I do think there is a perception growing about the city centre and people not feeling safe or being hesitant about the atmosphere.
“We still see lots of people choosing Winckley Street and it’s nearly full down here with places to go and that’s great, but anything which means the city centre as a whole is a more welcoming place is a good step.”
Police encourage people to report issues
Police have recently been issuing dispersal orders targeted at young people and anti-social behaviour in the city centre.
A string of arrests were made last week in response.
Preston Neighbourhood Policing Inspector Dave Byrne, said: “Anti-social behaviour can have a profound impact on people’s lives and can really affect how safe they feel in their own homes and neighbourhoods.
“We want to make it really clear that it is not welcome in Preston and we will continue to work alongside our partners to tackle ASB issues including criminal damage, aggressive behaviour and drug dealing.
“By working together, we can ensure that people feel safe where they live and that those who visit Preston can do so safely.”
A police spokesperson confirmed dispersal orders may still be issued alongside the new Public Space Protection Order if senior police officers felt it was needed.
Striking a balance
Councillor Bailey, who is responsible for overseeing the increased powers, said it was the ‘right time’ for the order to be brought in.
He said: “I think if you look at the increased provision on Cheapside for rough sleepers we are opening and the youth services coming in with new buildings then there are places for people to go who perhaps might have been causing issues before.
“We want young people to come into the city and if they are behaving themselves then they will have no trouble with the police. And that’s true for the vast majority of young people.”
Cllr Bailey said there were no expectations for how many fixed penalty notices may be issued and also clarified there were no plans for under-18s to be issued with fixed penalty notices.
He said: “I would hope none, as we’d want everyone to be complying with the rules which would mean it’s a safe place to be in the city centre. But we know there have been issues, with a range of things, so I hope it means Preston is a nicer place for people to visit as a result.
“We will be seeing how it goes and taking onboard feedback we receive.
“We already work closely with the police and I think Preston has a very good police force, who work well with the community and there’s a respect there.”
Cllr Bailey said he expected if notices were issued it was more likely a police officer would hand one out than a council officer – although council officers would be patrolling as part of existing teams and duties.
He said: “I think it is likely we would have a police officer doing the issuing. As I say the key is there are places where individuals can be signposted for help as that should be the first port of call.
“But if they are determined on causing a nuisance and trouble then the powers will be used.”
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