A NEW Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) has been put in place in Redditch town centre in a bid to curb anti-social behaviour.
The PSPO is in response to complaints from people and businesses about unruly behaviour relating to the misuse of alcohol and drugs.
The order makes it an offence to refuse, when asked by a police officer or authorised council officer, to surrender alcohol, intoxicating substances and the items used to take them, or to refuse an instruction to leave the area for a set period of time. These are not offences outside a PSPO.
By introducing the PSPO in Redditch town centre, the borough council will give authorised officers additional powers to quickly deal with people behaving anti-socially.
They will be asked to leave the area for a set period of time, alcohol and drugs could be confiscated, fines issued and arrests made.
The PSPO has been designed to restrict behaviours identified as having an ongoing and unreasonable detrimental effect on people in the area.
The order was given the go-ahead at Tuesday’s council meeting and followed a consultation where residents could have their say.
