In response to an increase in reports of anti-social behaviour in the Town Centre and surrounding areas of Huntingdon, Huntingdonshire District Council are looking to put in place a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO), defined by the inner ring road of Huntingdon.
Behaviours that have been concerning people local to the area include public intoxication, urination/defecation and intimidating behaviour such as, abusive and upsetting language, verbal abuse to visitor, businesses and residents and acting in a manner that causes alarm and distress.
PSPOs are a power granted to Councils in the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 and are designed to stop individuals and groups from committing anti-social behaviour in a public place. A PSPO allows Huntingdonshire District Council to put in place restrictions and requirements. Breaches of a PSPO condition or requirement are a criminal offence, and offenders may face fixed penalty notices (currently set at £100), or prosecution in criminal court.
This proposed PSPO has been designed as a partnership response to the anti-social behaviour which has had a detrimental effect on the quality of life of those in the locality. The effect or likely effect of this anti-social behaviour is, or is likely to be, persistent or continuing in nature, is or is likely to be, unreasonable and justifies the proposed restrictions and requirements being imposed as part of a PSPO.
The proposed restrictions and requirements are proportionate and necessary to prevent the anti-social behaviour from continuing, occurring or recurring. If the consultation is successful, the PSPO will be jointly enforced by Huntingdonshire District Council and Cambridgeshire Constabulary (Police).
In considering whether to make a PSPO and for how long, the Local Authority has had particular regard to Articles 10 and 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.
It is proposed the PSPO will be in place for a period of 3 years and will be reviewed on an annual basis.
Location
The conditions of the Public Spaces Protection Order apply to the land within Huntingdon Ring Road.
This is defined by road name as Riverside Road, Castle Moat Road, Walden Road, Saint John’s Street, Cromwell Walk, Brookside and Nursery Road. This encompasses all public highways, footpaths, bridleways, churchyards/cemeteries, and any place to which the public or any section of the public has access, on payment or otherwise, as of right or by virtue of express or implied permission.
Conditions
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Persons within the Huntingdon Public Spaces Protection Order area as defined in the map above (hereafter referred to as ‘the map’) are prohibited from consuming alcohol or being in possession of an open vessel containing alcohol, other than on licensed premises, where a Temporary Event Notice is in operation in accordance with the Licensing Act 2003, or where there is any other lawful authorisation, for example: Pavement Licence. This prohibition does not apply to those premises and places specified in section 62 Antisocial Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014. Persons within the area defined by the map are required to dispose of or surrender any containers in their possession that a Police Officer, Police Community Support Officer, or other authorised officers have a belief that it contains alcohol.
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Persons within the area as defined in the map must not urinate and/or defecate in any public place other than within a designated public toilet.
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Persons within the area as defined in the map are prohibited from acting in a manner which is harassing, alarming or distressing to any other person, or acting in a manner which is likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress to any other person. This includes, but is not limited to:
- Using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour towards any other person
- Shouting, screaming or behaving in an aggressive, intimidating or disorderly manner towards any other person.
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Any persons within the area defined in the map must disperse from the immediate location and not return within a period of 12 hours, unless for one or more of the agreed purposes specified below, if requested to do so by a Police Constable, Police Community Support Officer or other authorised officer, if the Police Constable, Police Community Support Officer or other authorised officer is of the opinion that the individual is causing harassment, alarm or distress to any person, or is acting in a manner that is likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress to any person.
Any person dispersed from the immediate location may return to the area defined in the map for one or more of the purposes outlined below, as agreed by a police officer, police community support officer or other authorised officer. The purposes referred to above include:
- Attending a pre-arranged appointment, including medical, legal, or other professional appointments where evidence can be provided if requested by a Police Officer, Police Community Support Officer, or other authorised officer
- Travelling directly to or from your home address, place of work or education establishment
- Attending a religious event/place of worship
- Responding to an emergency or seeking emergency assistance.
Feedback
Please complete this online consultation form.
Should you wish to discuss this consultation further, please contact the HDC Community Safety Team via communityaction@huntingdonshire.gov.uk, including ‘Huntingdon PSPO’ in the subject title.
Alternatively, you can call 01480 388388 and ask to talk to the Community Safety Team.
We are grateful for your time and consideration of the proposed conditions.