Call for Shrewsbury anti-social behaviour order patch to be extended

The news comes as councillor for Castlefields and Shrewsbury Town Council leader Alan Mosley told Shropshire Council's cabinet that anti-social behaviour is getting worse in Shrewsbury town centre rather than better.

The Shrewsbury Town Centre Public Spaces Protection Order was approved by Shropshire Council’s cabinet in June last year, with the condition that it be brought back for consideration after a year.

Banned

The PSPO bans anti-social behaviour in public areas - specifically urinating, defecating, leaving personal belongings and continuing to drink alcohol after being asked to stop.

Action has been taken against a total of 49 people using the PSPO since it came into effect in June. Of these 28 were under the age of 18.

Breaching the order - which covers the town centre area within the river loop and a part of Mountfields which includes Frankwell car park and the playing fields adjacent - can lead to a fine of up to £1,000 or a £75 fixed penalty notice, reduced to £50 if paid within 10 days.

The order also gives police and authorised council officers the power to order people causing a nuisance to leave the area for 48 hours.

Problems getting worse

Councillor Joyce Barrow portfolio holder for communities, waste and regulatory services, told cabinet members: "The data indicates there is a need for the order to remain in force."

Councillor for Castlefields and Shrewsbury Town Council leader Alan Mosley said expectation about the order were "grossly inflated".

He said: "Clearly it has done some good although some of the expectations people had about the order were grossly inflated.

"The problems are getting worse rather than better, to some extent this is a consequence of budgets in mental health and under funding of the services that treat people for drug and alcohol problems.

"I would say that as an addendum to this there is consideration given to extending the geographical limit further to other areas."

The order specifically does not prohibit begging or rough sleeping, both of which have become commonplace in Pride Hill and surrounding areas, as the council was keen to avoid criminalising particular groups or targeting homeless people.

Councillor Dean Carroll, the deputy portfolio holder for housing, said: "This isn't specifically aimed or targeted at the rough sleeping community.

"We are trying to engage and support members of the rough sleeping community but we need to treat them the same as we would anybody else with these behaviours."

Councillor Barrow added: "A number of first time offenders don't re-offend and we are working with the town council to alleviate the situation ."