What Bentley Bridge's new rules over anti-social behaviour mean
BBCExtra police officers have been patrolling a retail park in Wolverhampton after groups of teenagers have been repeatedly causing issues for visitors and businesses.
The patrols come after a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) was set up at the Bentley Bridge Retail and Leisure Park, in a bid to combat anti-social behaviour and to " maintain a safe, welcoming environment", the city council said.
But what effect will this have on those who regularly use the site?
What exactly does it mean?
Under the Anti Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, police officers will now have the power to ask groups to leave the retail and leisure park in the Wednesfield area of the city.
West Midlands Police said anyone who does not leave the area when directed to by officers can be arrested.
The aim of the PSPO is to crackdown on a steady increase in anti-social behaviour – largely involving groups of youths – in and around the area in recent years.
Who will it affect?
West Midlands PoliceGroups of three or more people can be ordered to leave the premises covered by the PSPO if their behaviour is deemed to be causing, or is likely to cause, nuisance, harassment, alarm or distress to others using the space.
The type of behaviour that can result in people being asked to vacate the area include:
- Intimidating or aggressive behaviour
- Verbal abuse towards staff, security or visitors
- Obstructing walkways or entrances
- Hanging around in a way that causes discomfort or deterrence to others
- Behaviour linked to shop theft, drug use, or anti-social gatherings
Those who can use the retail park and surrounding areas and not be affected by the order include:
- Children accompanied by parents or carers behaving appropriately
- Shoppers, cinema-goers, gym users, and restaurant visitors
- Peaceful groups, families or friends gathering respectfully
- People passing through the area for normal day to day activity
What if you wear facial coverings for religious reasons?
The local authority has assured members of the public that the measure has been designed to only target those responsible for violence and anti-social behaviour.
For others, it will not affect groups who are using the retail park to visit the cinema, bowling alley, restaurants or shops.
The council has said the order will also not discriminate against those legitimately wearing a face covering, for example for medical reasons or religious purposes.
Coverings that are permitted include:
- Medical face coverings
- Religious face coverings
- Weather appropriate clothing worn normally
- Situations where no anti social behaviour is taking place
How long will it be in place?
The new measures came into place on 25 March following a public consultation, which the council said visitors and businesses showed "overwhelmingly strong support" for the order.
It is expected to be in place for three years.
Has it worked before?
Two years ago, a PSPO was introduced in the city centre that resulted in "a 16% reduction in recorded crime, including a 50% fall in robberies", councillor Obaida Ahmed said.
"Data shows an increase in incidents of anti-social behaviour in the area over recent years, and, where a group of people or an individual is likely to cause, or is causing, anti-social behaviour, the PSPO will give police the authority to ask them to leave the area, and remove any face coverings being purposefully used to disguise their identity," she said.
Why are young people gathering in large groups?
Head youth worker Rebecca Bunger, of the The Way Youth Zone in Wolverhampton, said large gatherings of children, fuelled by social media, can be "innocent".
She told BBC Radio WM: "Young people when they're not in school, they long for all of the same things that you and I long for, community, to hang out with friends, belonging, and they will find that wherever they can.
"If they can find it in Bentley Bridge then that's where they'll go. I do understand that seeing large numbers of young people hanging around together can feel intimidating, but a lot of what they're doing is perfectly innocent.
"Kids can gather en-masse much easier now through social media tools like Snapchat, TikTok so there's much bigger groups of them now."
What is being done to tackle this issue?
The Way Youth Zone in the city centre has hosted youth sessions six days a week for young people to avoid gathering in crime hotspots.
However, the centre has acknowledged many families may struggle to send their children to their site, so an outreach team has been set up to head to local areas where young people are likely to be gathering.
Bunger added: "It's so that we can provide a safe presence in those spaces, build relationships with these young people and hopefully find something that they would love to do that will divert them away from behaviour that can occasionally become anti-social."
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