Prostitution in Desborough Road among issues to be tackled by proposed Public Spaces Protection Orders
On Friday 5th August 2016 a public consultation, lasting three months, will be launched on proposals to implement two new Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs) in High Wycombe.
The first of the proposed PSPOs would replace the existing Designated Public Place Order (which was repealed by the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014) allowing a police officer to request an individual to forfeit any alcohol within the designated area of High Wycombe town centre if the police officer suspects the consumption of alcohol could result in anti-social behaviour being committed.
The PSPO will give the authorities the power to tackle alcohol-related anti-social behaviour in Wycombe town centre, Desborough Road and The Rye. It will replicate the current Designated Public Place Order.
The second PSPO being proposed is to restrict all prostitution-related activities for an as yet undefined area around the Desborough Road shopping district.
Introduced by the government PSPOs are new powers which give authorities the opportunity to restrict specific anti-social behaviour that has a detrimental effect on business, residents and visitors in a designated area.
Cllr Julia Adey, Wycombe District Council’s Cabinet Member for Community, said: ‘The council has listened to residents and businesses in bringing forward these proposals, with the new PSPOs giving authorities more flexibility to take action against people deemed to be committing anti-social behaviour in town.
We wish to ensure High Wycombe is a pleasant, vibrant and enjoyable place to live, work and visit, and so I would urge people to help us shape these proposed orders to ensure we can tackle anti-social behaviour.‘
As part of the consultation, Wycombe District Council will be consulting with partners and key stakeholders. Residents will be able to inform the council if they support the proposed PSPOs and, if so, which roads and spaces should be included in the designated area.
Further information on the proposed PSPOs and the online consultation survey can be found at www.wycombe.gov.uk/consultation-wycombe-district-public-spaces-protection-order from Friday 5th August 2016.
Hard copies will also available from the Wycombe District Council offices in Queen Victoria Road in High Wycombe.
The closing date of the consultations is Friday 28th October 2016.
