Consultation begins on proposed community safety order for Liscard

Wirral Council is about to begin a public consultation on a proposed new Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) affecting Liscard town centre.

This consultation is to seek people’s views on a proposed PSPO to deter individuals and groups from engaging in the kind of crime and anti-social behaviour that has been blighting the shopping areas around Liscard in recent months.

Between March 2024 and March this year, nearly 300 incidents were reported to police about anti-social behaviour or related crimes in the town centre. These are often reported as involving groups of intimidating young people, people covering their faces to hide their identities and dangerous use of bikes, E-bikes and scooters on the pavement.

This kind of behaviour has been having an impact on local residents, businesses in the area and people who might be visiting or passing through.

Prior to beginning the process of introducing a PSPO in the area, Wirral Council’s Anti-Social Behaviour Team, in partnership with Merseyside Police, has tried a number of different approaches to try and address the problems, including the use of Dispersal Zones.

However, despite the issuing of two Acceptable Behaviour Contracts, three formal warnings and 17 warning letters, reports of anti-social behaviour and crime in this part of Liscard remain at a high level, which is why consultation is now taking place on the introduction of a PSPO.

A PSPO is a power created by the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014. It is intended to deal with activities in a defined area that are considered to be detrimental to the local community’s quality of life. It can do this by imposing conditions on the use of that area so that the majority of people can enjoy the public space.

The proposed Liscard PSPO would look to prohibit the following activities within the defined area and have the following conditions:  

• If any person in the restricted area is in a group of two or more and an authorised officer believes they are acting or likely to act anti-socially, they are to leave the area when asked to so. They must then not return to the red or blue prohibition areas for a period of 24 hours without good reason.
• No person is allowed to wear a face covering inside the red or blue prohibition areas if an authorised officer believes they are doing so to try and hide their identity.
• Inside the blue prohibition area, no person is allowed to ride any pedal cycles, scooters or E-bikes except for those with mobility issues or to provide goods and services to properties. 

If introduced, any individuals found breaching the terms of the PSPO would be liable to a fine or prosecution not exceeding level three on the standard scale (currently £1,000). Alternatively, authorised officers can issue a Fixed Penalty Notice (£100) if appropriate. 

From Monday 30 June, residents are invited to take part in the survey to have their say about the proposed Public Spaces Protection Order. The results of the survey will help decide if this PSPO should be introduced in Liscard town centre.  

This consultation will last for eight weeks, closing on Monday 25 August 2025. The decision on introducing the PSPO for Liscard town centre will be taken based on the feedback gathered during this consultation.  

Details of how to get involved and register views can be found at Liscard Public Spaces Protection Order | Have your say Wirral 

The launch of the Liscard PSPO consultation also marks the start of Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) Awareness Week 2025 in Wirral.

The annual awareness-raising event involves the council’s Community Safety team and other partners, such as Merseyside Police, Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service and local social housing providers carrying out activities across the borough throughout the week.

This year, partners will be active and visible in locations including Moreton, New Ferry, Woodchurch, New Brighton, Liscard, Bidston and Beechwood & Ballantyne.