Fines may be brought in for anti-social behaviour

4 hours ago

Kirsten RobertsonWiltshire

News image — Trowbridge has one of the highest rates of shoplifting in the country

Getty Images A street scene in Trowbridge, with cars travelling in single file down a road and shops and bars in the distance. A pedestrian carrying an orange shopping bag is in the foreground walking on a pavement — Trowbridge has one of the highest rates of shoplifting in the country

Police in a town branded a shoplifting hotspot could be given extra powers to clamp down on crime.

Wiltshire Council wants feedback from residents on whether to implement a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) in parts of Trowbridge, which could see people fined £100 on the spot for engaging in anti-social behaviour.

Local officers say street drinking, drug misuse, shoplifting, aggression, public order offences and criminal damage are among the key issues they face.

Neighbourhood Sergeant Gemma Rutter said the PSPO could give officers additional powers to proactively target anti-social behaviour which has a "detrimental effect on the wider community."

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Fore Street, and surrounding town centre areas, have been identified by police as hotspots for anti-social behaviour and criminal activity.

Trowbridge is also the shoplifting capital of Wiltshire. In the past year, there were about 190 recorded incidents of shoplifting per 1,000 people - one of the highest rates in the whole country.

A female police officer smiles as she stands and faces the camera. She is wearing a hat, black uniform and a high-visibility jacket — Sgt Gemma Rutter said the order could make it easier for police to combat anti-social behaviour

What would the PSPO cover?

It could introduce restrictions - including £100 fines - on activities including:

Alcohol-related anti-social behaviour and street drinking;
Drug use and associated paraphernalia;
Aggressive begging;
Anti-social conduct causing harassment, alarm or distress;
Littering associated with alcohol, drug use and waste likely to attract rodents.

What shop staff are up against when challenging shoplifters

A public consultation on the potential PSPO is now open from 5 October until 25 October.

"Everyone should be able to enjoy town centres, particularly our county town, without experiencing anti-social behaviour or feeling unsafe," said Sarah Valdus, Wiltshire Council's director for public protection.

"A Public Spaces Protection Order would provide additional powers to tackle some of the most persistent issues affecting the town centre, but it is important that we hear the views of local people before any decision is made."

PSPO orders are available under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 and they provide councils with powers to address persistent anti-social behaviour.

Existing PSPOs are already in places like Salisbury, Devizes, Downton and Redlynch.

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