NEW legislation which has been drawn up to continue reducing antisocial behaviour in Barnsley town centre is set to clamp down on persistent and aggressive begging, a report has revealed.
A three-year public space protection order (PSPO) was brought in across the town centre and some residential streets in 2016, effectively banning perpetrators from entering the area.
A 40-day consultation took place earlier this year and, following the public’s input, a new PSPO is set to come into force until 2022 if Barnsley Council’s ruling cabinet members decide to approve the scheme next week.
Areas including Peel Street; Midland Street; Peel Square; Wellington Street; Eldon Street; Race Street; Peel Parade and Sackville Street - all of which were included before - will be retained, while Market Hill and County Way will be added to the PSPO if the plan is approved.
The report, compiled by Safer Neighbourhood Service manager Mark Giles, reveals more than 500 dispersal notices were issued during the three-year period, leading to antisocial behaviour figures being slashed by about 40 per cent in the town centre.
“The analysis shows that 68 per cent of reported incidents occurred in the streets which have been added to the revised PSPO, which are Market Hill and County Way,” the report said.
“The PSPO is its previous form has been successful and the evidence demonstrates that it is a suitable mechanism to deal with low-level, high-volume concerns. It is important to note that there are less dispersal notices being issued due to there being less problems.
“Based on the public’s feedback there is the option for begging to be included in the revised PSPO, however the condition will be used on a case-by-case basis.
“Those involved in this activity often have complex lives and we suggest that we should ensure that all efforts to engage with the individual have been exhausted and that enforcement is the last resort in dealing with this behaviour.”
More than 500 members of the public took part in the consultation, which showed 53 per cent felt ‘fairly safe’ or ‘very safe’ in the town centre, although 92 per cent of people said they wanted more powers to stop begging to be a part of the new proposal.
As part of the plan, South Yorkshire Police - cited as a ‘key partner’ of the council’s in the enforcement of the PSPO - will focus more on antisocial behaviour and not on begging-related issues.
“Data shows that antisocial behaviour is still occurring in the town centre,” the report added. “This suggests that a PSPO is still necessary in order to give the council and police additional powers to deal with it.
“Balancing the needs of people leading complex lives and the rights of the general public while in the town centre is challenging to balance.
“It is intended that the new PSPO, combined with other measures to assure the safety and security of Barnsley, will positively impact the majority of people using the town centre for work, business or leisure as well as those living nearby.”
