Solihull Council has approved the creation of a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) in and around the bus interchange next to Chelmsley Wood shopping centre, in order to help tackle anti-social behaviour in the area.
The decision to implement a PSPO follows a consultation that took place earlier in the year. It was approved on Monday 16 June at the decision-making session for the Communities cabinet portfolio.
The PSPO will give additional powers to the police to deal with anti-social behaviour in the restricted area and the ability to react faster. Specifically, it will:
- Prohibit people from riding, cycling or using an e-bike, e-scooter, motorbike or quad bike within the restricted area, unless they have a reasonable excuse
- Give the police the power to require groups of three or more people to leave the restricted area from 6pm – 6am if they’re suspected of anti-social behaviour
- Give the police the power to require a person to remove a face covering if it hides their identity and they’re suspected of anti-social behaviour.
Failure to comply with a PSPO is a criminal offence and currently the maximum penalty on conviction is £2,500.
Where an individual is suspected of an offence, they can be issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) as an alternative to prosecution. The fixed penalty in Solihull is £100, reduced to £75, if paid within the first seven days. Recipients of an FPN have a maximum of 14 days in which to pay the penalty, after which a file will be constructed and submitted for legal action.
It is the policy of the Council to prosecute those who do not pay a fixed penalty, however the Council has decided to adopt a two-tier response dependent on age alongside an escalating response according to whether it is a first, second or subsequent offence.
Solihull Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities, Cllr Wazma Qais, said:
“Anti-social behaviour in and around the bus interchange in Chelmsley Wood has been having a very negative affect on local residents and businesses. A significant proportion of the reports from Solihull to West Midlands Police of anti-social behaviour are from this area and have included people carrying knives and machetes, thefts, fights, damage to buses and inconsiderate riding of high-powered electric motorbikes and e-bikes.
“Earlier in the year we held a consultation about the proposal to implement a PSPO in the area and the overwhelming response from local people was that they welcomed this proposal. Thank you to all the residents and businesses who took the time to respond and give feedback. We have listened and we are going ahead!
“If you live or work in Chelmsley Wood please help us to spread the word that we are taking this action and remind people to observe the PSPO. Residents can also help us to tackle anti-social behaviour across the borough by reporting anti-social behaviour to the Council’s Hotline on 0121 717 1500.”
To see the Council’s full report on the Chelmsley Wood Public Space Protection Order please see - Committee details - CPH Communities Decision Session