Residents in Bath and North East Somerset are being asked for their views on renewing two legal orders which address anti-social behaviour associated with the possession and consumption of alcohol in the centres of Bath and Midsomer Norton.
The Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs) for Bath and Midsomer Norton would enable Bath & North East Somerset Council and Avon & Somerset police to continue to act on antisocial behaviour to keep people safe.
The PSPOs consultation launched today (July 8) asks for people’s views on continuing to prohibit people from having alcohol in their possession, care or control in any public place within the Restricted Area within the City of Bath and Midsomer Norton Town Centre, where that person is behaving in a way likely to cause, or where an authorised officer reasonably suspects would lead to, harassment, alarm or distress, crime, or disorder in the area.
It would not be a criminal offence to consume alcohol within a restricted area. PSPOs are not intended to disrupt peaceful activities and are used explicitly to deal with anti-social behaviour in public places that is detrimental to the local community’s quality of life. It would be an offence however, without reasonable excuse, to fail to comply with a request by an Authorised Officer to cease drinking or surrender alcohol. A person guilty of such an offence would be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £1000.
The existing PSPOs expire in September this year and the council has a statutory duty to consult on their renewal.
Residents can respond to the consultations up to August 16.
Councillor Tim Ball, cabinet member for Neighbourhood Services, said: “We are committed to maintaining Bath and North East Somerset as a place that residents can be proud of and people want to visit. People should feel safe when out and about in our city and town centres. We want to find out whether residents continue to support these PSPOs as they have done in the past, so please have your say in our consultation.”
Public Places are defined as those 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. This means the proposed PSPO would include car parks to which the public have access and public parks as well as other public spaces such as streets.
Anyone who has questions about this consultation or needs any of this information in an alternative format is invited to email the council’s Community Safety team at Community_Safety@bathnes.gov.uk, or email council_connect@bathnes.gov.uk
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