Antisocial behaviour orders sought for town centre

A public consultation has been launched into the possibility of introducing a new Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) in a town centre.

Swindon Borough Council is proposing the scheme, with an emphasis on preventing anti-social behaviours such as street drinking, public urination and the unsafe use of bikes and e-scooters.

The new powers, if approved, would allow police officers and some council officers to ban individuals from the town centre.

Those breaking the ban would be subject to a £100 fixed penalty notice.

Councillor Jim Grant said the proposal was part of the council's plans to improve the visitor experience to the centre, with the majority of the town's antisocial behaviour taking place there.

"People are scared to go into the town centre – and we've got plans to regenerate the town, but they are not going to come if they've got street drinkers and people riding bikes around – that's why we need these orders in place," he said.

When asked why a previous similar scheme had been allowed to lapse, he said that the previous scheme wasn't "very effective".

"The police and council at the time couldn't make up their minds about how to enforce it, but we are now both 100% behind it and if the consultation doesn't raise any particular issues, we will be bringing this in," he added.

Asked about how the scheme would work, he said that shop owners and members of the public would still need to contact the police if incidents occurred, but that there would be PCSOs and street wardens patrolling as well.

Wiltshire Police Inspector David Tippetts said the scheme would hopefully lead to a change in people's behaviour.

"Its an opportunity to educate people as well because some people might not understand that their behaviour is affecting other members of the public," he said.

The consultation runs until Monday 17 March, with a separately-proposed PSPO consultation to ban unauthorised car meets in the town running until until Tuesday 25 March.

Follow BBC Wiltshire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.