6
Councillor Rivett returned to the meeting.
Cabinet received report ES/0468 by the Assistant Cabinet Member with responsibility for Community Health who stated that his report was presented to Cabinet to provide information about Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) and to seek a decision in respect of the extension of three PSPOs in the north of the District.
The Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 replaced Alcohol Consumption in Designated Public Place Orders (DPPOs) on the 20 October 2017. DDPOs were introduced in Waveney in 2009 following extensive research and consultation which supported orders in Oulton Broad, Harbour and Kirkley wards. These PSPOs would expire on 19 October 2020. Suffolk Police would like the existing PSPOs to be extended but in order to do so, there must be sufficient robust evidence to support the statutory criteria and meet the legal test laid out within the report at paragraph 1.7.
Alongside PSPOs, there was complimentary legislation that could be considered by the Police, Confiscation of Alcohol (Young Persons) Act 1997, Dispersal Powers and Community Protection Notice (CPN).
Council Officers had notified the Police of the expiration of the existing PSPOs and asked them to provide evidence to support the continuation/extension of all three PSPOs. Unfortunately, no supporting data has been received. Data in relation to anti social behaviour in the relevant area was presented in section 2.2 of the report but it was generic and therefore it was not possible to infer what particular outcome would be achieved through continuation of the PSPOs in each area. This data did suggest that the levels of anti social behaviour remained significant in the Harbour ward but not in Kirkley or Oulton Broad wards.
Cabinet was advised that, since publication of the report, Oulton Broad had made a representation in respect of levels of anti social behaviour and had commented that, during the last four months, Oulton Broad Parish Council had employed an independent security company, at a considerable cost and that would have an impact on the precept next year and years to come, to patrol Nicholas Everitt Park, and the surrounding area, to deal with these matters. Councillor Jepson stated that it was perhaps frustrating that the level of information shared about this particular location by the Police was limited; however, it was clear that the Police had not been using the PSPO option in this area, tending to prefer alternative legislation. Councillor Jepson made it clear that the PSPOs did not appear to have been used, with a reliance on other information, which was however relevant to Cabinet.
The Leader emphasised that ESC should not confuse the two issues of anti social behaviour taking place within the Kirkley and Oulton Broad wards with the granting of PSPOs; that was merely one thing that the Police could use to deal with the issues. The Police had clearly chosen not to use that particular option, and that was an operational policing choice, and not for ESC to seek to impose. It was for the Police to decide how best to deal with anti social behaviour. It was, the Leader emphasised, for Cabinet to look at the renewal, or not, of two PSPOs. That would not change the number of incidents of anti social behaviour or the way in which the Police would deal with them.
Councillor Byatt referred to the alternative methods used by the Police, as referred to by the Leader and the Assistant Cabinet Member with responsibility for Community Health, and asked if ESC should be asking the Police and Crime Commissioner to increase the Police numbers in Lowestoft, if that was an issue, in respect of dealing with these matters. The Leader provided a reminder that the Assistant Cabinet Member with responsibility for Community Health was also the Chair of the local Community Safety Partnership and, as such, had regular liaison with the Police and the Police and Crime Commissioner. The Leader was sure that if there were issues that officers and / or ward members wanted to be raised, then Councillor Jepson would be happy to do that. Councillor Jepson confirm that, and also stated that the Partnership had just completed a consultation exercise and publication in respect of the Community Safety Action Plan for East Suffolk, and anti social behaviour was very much part of that. Councillor Jepson referred to a Task and Finish Group taking place on 9 October 2020 to identify specific actions, in partnership with the Police and other organisations, to tackle anti social behaviour.
RESOLVED
1. That the Public Space Protection Order for the Harbour ward for a further three years be agreed on the basis that the Public Space Protection Order has been used extensively in this ward, along with other legislative tools to support the Police to tackle alcohol related anti social behaviour in this location.
2. That the Public Space Protection Orders for the Kirkley and Oulton Broad wards should not be extended on the basis that there is no evidence that the Public Space Protection Order for these areas has been used or that it has supported the Police in tackling alcohol related anti social behaviour in these locations.