Public safety orders under review across the county - have your say

Buckinghamshire Council is launching a public consultation on four Public Safety Protection Orders (PSPOs) that are currently under review across the county.

In line with legal requirements, the council is reviewing the four PSPOs with the aim of gauging their effectiveness and to assess whether there is still a need for them to be in place.

PSPOs are introduced to a specific area when a particular nuisance or problem becomes detrimental to the local community’s quality of life. This is achieved by imposing conditions in that area which apply to everyone.

PSPOs can prohibit specified activities, and can be used to target a range of different anti-social behaviour issues. A PSPO can last for a maximum of three years, after which it must be reviewed.

The four PSPOs under review, and the activities they seek to address/restrict in that area are (click link for full details):

1. Aylesbury Town Centre

• The consumption of alcohol and anti-social behaviour associated with the consumption of alcohol a public place
• Public urination and defecation
• Aggressive or intimating behaviour
• Dog fouling
• The unauthorised parking of motor vehicles on the public realm of Kingsbury and Market Square

[PICTURE: Aylesbury Town Centre PSPO Area]

2. Buckingham Town Centre

• Consuming alcohol or being in possession of an open container of alcohol

[PICTURE: Buckingham Town Centre PSPO Area]

3. West End Road - High Wycombe

• Damage to fences and walls (to adjoining / nearby buildings)
• Littering
• Loitering and drinking alcohol
• Noise and nuisance from people passing through the area via the footpath

[PICTURE: West End Road, High Wycombe PSPO Area]

4. Winslow and Steeple Claydon

• The consumption of alcohol and anti-social behaviour associated with the consumption of alcohol a public place

[PICTURE: Steeple Claydon PSPO Area]

In all four cases the council is proposing to extend the PSPOs for a further three years.

The surveys are open until midnight on Monday 11^th July and are also available in the above links.

Steve Bowles, Cabinet Member for Communities explained: "We are really keen to hear from local people, be they residents, businesses or organisations, about their thoughts on these PSPOs.

“For our health and wellbeing, it is important that everyone who lives or works in an area feels safe when out and about.

“Sometimes the behaviour of a small minority of people can affect those feelings. PSPOs are one way of addressing issues of anti-social behaviour so we'd like to know what people think of those we currently have in place.

“I would urge anyone with a link to these areas to find out more and take a few minutes to complete the survey."