A DEDICATED public spaces team is taking to the streets as part of the city council’s ongoing bid to tackle antisocial behaviour across Leicester.
The new team will initially focus on the city centre, supporting the enforcement of the Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) that was introduced last year to crack down on nuisance behaviour.
Wearing distinctive blue protective vests, with their role clearly displayed on the back of their jackets, the six officers will have delegated powers under the Crime and Policing Act 2014 to actively engage with those causing a nuisance and use enforcement measures where required.
They will also provide a highly visible presence in the city centre, encouraging behaviour change through engagement, support and education. Anyone breaching the PSPO, however, could be issued with a fixed penalty notice of £100, rising to £1,000, if prosecution leads to conviction.
While focussing on the city centre in the short-term, the team’s remit would be expanded to cover surrounding areas from the autumn, if proposals for a further PSPO are approved.
Intelligence and data will inform the team’s work, ensuring that the council’s resources are targeted where they are most needed.
Residents and businesses can play their part by reporting incidents of antisocial behaviour in their communities, helping the police and the city council to gather the data that they need.
City Mayor Peter Soulsby said: “There’s a general consensus that cities don’t feel as safe as they used to – and that’s something I’m determined to address in Leicester.
“The introduction of this new team forms part of the council’s wider work with partners, including the police and the BID, to improve safety and enhance the city’s public spaces for everyone.
“This team will provide a visible and coordinated response to the issues that matter most to our communities – from antisocial behaviour to wider public safety concerns.
“People who live or work in Leicester can play their part in shaping our community safety priorities by reporting antisocial behaviour, when they witness it. The data we collect will help ensure that our resources are targeted effectively – and help us deliver the improvements that we all want to see.”
The new team will work closely with the police and the BID in a coordinated approach.
Inspector Ryan Ludlam said: "We welcome the coordinated approach of this new team, which will play a valuable role in deterring antisocial behaviour in the city centre and further aiding crime reduction in the area."
BID Leicester director Simon Jenner said: "This new team will be an important addition to the city centre. Their focus on tackling antisocial behaviour is welcomed by our local businesses, and working in partnership with the Police and BID Ambassadors, they are sure to have a positive impact for workers and visitors to the city."
The new public spaces team will initially operate in the city centre for 12 hours a day, six days a week.
A consultation on a proposal for a Zone 2 Public Spaces Protection Order, covering a number of neighbourhoods adjoining the city centre, has been extended until Friday 3 July to allow more people to comment.
A formal decision on a Zone 2 PSPO is expected to be made later this year.
ends
Photo caption: Members of the new public spaces team meet City Mayor Peter Soulsby in Town Hall Square today (Tuesday), as they formally start their patrols in the city centre