Bromborough PSPO will target nuisance and dangerous driving
Fresh powers are now in place that will help the police and local authority deter and deal with incidents of anti-social behaviour that have been making life a misery for residents and businesses in Bromborough.
A new Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) has been approved and is now being implemented to address ongoing complaints of vehicle nuisance taking place around Bromborough industrial estate and surrounding areas.
Mark Camborne, Assistant Director Neighbourhoods, Safety & Transport at Wirral Council, said:
These complaints highlighted details of vehicles racing at high speeds along the public highway, damaging street signs, street furniture and road surfaces and disrupting and disturbing businesses that operate within the area.
“In one of the complaints, a representative from one of the businesses said they had to instruct their staff to work from home for their own safety whilst this reckless behaviour was taking place outside their premises. It was clear that decisive action had to be taken and this is exactly what the council and its partners have done.”
A public consultation, which took place earlier this year to gather feedback on the proposal to introduce a PSPO in this area, found widespread support for the measure and the final order was approved this month.
The PSPO will remain in place for a period of three years and the measures set out in the order are designed to prevent – or at least reduce the impact of - the nuisance and dangerous behaviour taking place.
The key prohibitions within the order are:-
- Racing any vehicle and /or driving or riding any vehicle at a dangerous speed and /or in an otherwise dangerous manner at any time;
- Being part of a convoy or group of more than three vehicles between 6pm and 7am - this does not apply to commercial vehicles;
- Driving and / or riding and /or parking any vehicle in a manner which causes or is likely to cause nuisance or annoyance to any person in the restricted area at any time.
- Causing damage to any public highway, footpath, fence, street furniture or grass verge by the use of a vehicle at any time;
- Photographing or recording or spectating at any prohibited activity at any time; and
- Littering at any time
Breaches of any of the prohibitions can be enforced by any police officer, community support officer or Council officer authorised to issue fixed penalty notices for breaches of this Order. Anyone found in breach may be required to leave the Restricted Area and remain outside the Restricted Area for six hours.
A person guilty of an offence under Section 67 of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale, or a fixed penalty notice up to a maximum £100.
Wirral Local policing Sergeant Haydn Ward said:
“We take the issue of anti-social behaviour very seriously and have a number of tools at our disposal to deal with issues in our local communities.
The Wirral local policing team has previously worked alongside our road policing unit to disrupt drivers who choose to use the roads in Bromborough in an antisocial manner, using relevant legislation to prosecute offenders where appropriate.
“We also continue to work closely with the local authority and the council’s Anti-social Behaviour Team to tackle the problem as we know the impact this type of behaviour can have on people’s lives and wellbeing.
“It is good to know that following a public consultation that people living in the Bromborough area who have been affected by this issue support the introduction of the PSPO which we hope will go a long way to tackling the issue and making a real difference.
“I would encourage anyone who witnesses anti-social behaviour or knows who is responsible to contact us either via DM @MerseyPolice @CrimestoppersUK on 0800 555 111 so we can take action.”
Watch video footage of some of the anti-social behaviour here
