Council staff and local police officers will be visiting areas in Ashfield district over the next four Wednesdays as they continue to consult on new plans to curb anti-social behaviour. Ashfield’s existing Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) expires later this year. Councillors are considering a revised Order with specific powers to tackle public abuse of women and car cruising.
Before councillors can confirm the new order, they are undertaking a public consultation on the proposals and inviting residents to have their say. Responses to the consultation must be received by the council by midnight on Monday 26 May.
The proposed changes to the current order include widening the area and scope of a ban on vehicle-related nuisance. Currently, “car cruising” is prohibited around junction 27 of the M1. This would extend to a district-wide ban on “vehicle nuisance”, which would include performing stunts such as skidding, handbrake turns and doughnut manoeuvres.
The other change is to strengthen powers to protect women and girls, by introducing a power to fine individuals who harass women and girls in the street, including through “cat calling” – making sexual comments and remarks. If councillors make the order, Ashfield will become the first authority in the region to strengthen the ban on street harassment of women and girls in this way.
The move follows a survey by the council which showed that 60 per cent of women and girls who responded had been verbally abused in public.
As part of the consultation, members of Ashfield Council’s local Community Safety Team and officers from Ashfield’s Neighbourhood Policing Team will be undertaking a mini-tour of the district on the following Wednesdays, between 9.00 am and 1.00 pm:
- 1 May: Hucknall High Street
- 8 May: Kirkby Plaza
- 15 May: Sutton Sun Dial
- 23 May: Selston Co-op area
“We want a safer and stronger Ashfield for all residents”, John Bennett, Ashfield Council’s executive director of place, said. “The existing PSPO we have in place has proved extremely effective in giving us the tools to combat antisocial behaviour.
“Vehicle nuisance is not just confined to near the M1 and our plans to widen that, reflect an issue which we know residents are concerned about. And our plans to do more to protect women and girls from street harassment will be welcomed by so many.
“This type of behaviour is unacceptable and those responsible will find themselves issued with fixed penalty notices under our plan.
You can read more details about the proposed PSPO here. Residents can also complete an online survey here.
