New order in place to tackle anti-social behaviour in West Kirby
More than 90% of respondents to a public consultation said they were in favour of a three-year Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) being introduced across West Kirby to help tackle incidents of crime and anti-social behaviour.
Wirral Council – supported by Merseyside Police – is now moving forward with implementing this PSPO, which covers built-up areas between the Kings Gap roundabout in Hoylake to the north and Cubbins Green, West Kirby to the south - extending at its furthest point east to the Gilroy Road/Saughall Massie Road junction.
The aims of the order are to address particular behaviours that residents have complained to the authorities about over a period of time. This includes people who are committing anti-social behaviour covering their faces to hide their identities and the majority of this behaviour being carried out by those in large groups.
The areas covered by the order are extensive but have been selected with the aim to reduce the risk of anti-social behaviour in those areas to keep residents and other members of the public safe.
In summary the PSPO seeks to prohibit the following activities:
- Any person within any open public space in the Restricted Area who is in a gathering of 4 or more persons must leave the Restricted Area when required to do so by a Police Officer or an authorised officer if such officer reasonably believes that any person who is part of the gathering is engaging in or is intending to engage in behaviour that is likely to cause alarm, harassment or distress to any other person within the Restricted Area.
- Any person who receives a requirement to leave the restricted area must not return to, enter, or be in the Restricted Area, at any time within 24 hours after being required to leave without reasonable excuse.
- No person shall wear anything in any open public space within the Restricted area which covers any part of that person’s face where the authorised officer reasonably believes doing so is an attempt to conceal their identity. This does not include face coverings worn for religious reasons or for health reasons relating to an existing medical condition or vulnerability, or otherwise required by law.
Anyone found guilty of breaching the terms of the PSPO is liable to a fine on prosecution of up to £1,000. Alternatively, authorised officers can issue a Fixed Penalty Notice of £100 if appropriate.
The consultation for the proposed PSPO ended on August 14th 2024 and attracted 284 responses. Nearly 78% of those who responded said they had experienced anti-social behaviour in the areas covered by the draft PSPO within the last 12 months. 90.8% of respondents said ‘yes’ to supporting the PSPO.
The actions and behaviours of a small minority of people can have a disproportionately negative impact on many residents’ feelings of safety, which in turn affects their quality of life and their confidence to get out and enjoy leisure time and time spent socialising in the area around where they live.
PSPOs give the authorities much more power to take action against those who are acting in an anti-social, irresponsible or intimidating manner. They have proved effective in reducing levels of crime and anti-social behaviour in other areas and it is hoped that by introducing an order covering a wider area, this progress will continue.
Public Spaces Protection Orders are orders contained within the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 to help stop individuals or groups committing ASB.
The West Kirby PSPO came into effect on Monday 28 October 2024 for a period of three years.
