Latest news with #anti-social behaviour
BBC News
17 hours ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Crackdown on Stockport reservoir trouble 'hotspot'
New measures are being taken to clampdown on a trouble "hotspot" near a Stockport had raised concerns about unauthorised camping, fishing and anti-social behaviour around Sykes Reservoir in Alexandra Park, of noise disturbances, littering and the abuse of drugs and alcohol were "recurring, disruptive and deeply detrimental to the quality of life for those that live near the reservoir," Councillor Asa Caton a Town Hall meeting on 10 July he brought forward a motion calling for a public space protection order (PSPO), which grants powers to tackle certain anti-social activities or behaviours. The motion stated: "GMP [Greater Manchester Police] and the EA [Environment Agency] have performed joint operational visits recently with limited success." 'Protect residents' Mr Caton said: "We have explored other avenues, we've increased signage, engaged with local angling groups and stepped up patrols, but the problems persist, so a PSPO would give us the legal framework to prohibit overnight fishing and the associated behaviours, with appropriate exemptions and enforcement mechanisms."It would send a clear message that we are listening to our residents and taking action to protect their interests."Dan Oliver, Stockport Council's cabinet member for communities, culture and public protection, said he had already started to arrange a meeting to progress with the PSPO before the motion was brought up at the 10 July, according to the Local Democracy Reporting added council officers had requested more evidence about the need for the order and in the last six weeks had received "a series of reports that will justify" the Manchester Police was approached for comment. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram, and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
BBC News
18 hours ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Thanet District Council renews bid to issue fines for swearing
A council in Kent is renewing its efforts to introduce fines for people who are caught swearing in District Council last summer applied for permission to enforce a public space protection order (PSPO), which aims to target anti-social behaviour, including foul those plans were rejected amid a threat of a legal authority has reapplied for a PSPO to be introduced in areas including Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate, highlighting issues with swearing, drug use and alcohol. A PSPO makes it an offence to refuse to stop drinking alcohol in public, leave the area or use foul and abusive language if requested by a police or council officer.A fine of £100 can be a statement in support of the order, Ch Insp Ian Swallow said the implementation was a "necessary measure" to reduce crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour in Thanet. 'Reasonable excuse' In a council document presented at a meeting, the authority said there was "ongoing issues with anti-social behaviour" in the said there was overwhelming support for a PSPO among those consulted on the matter, following changes to its previous some of those consulted raised concerns that the PSPO could be used against peaceful protestors, while others were worried that young people may be fined wrongly for gathering in a person said in the council papers: "Whilst I disagree with foul language, I think that it is part of life today in the UK. I don't really see that it could cause harassment, alarm or distress to the majority of people."In response to these concerns, the council highlighted that there was a defence of "reasonable excuse", and that the Human Rights Act remained District Council has been approached for a full statement.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
‘People were smoking cannabis, arguing, and jumping in the canal - with nothing to stop it'
Concerns have been raised about whether measures to stop anti-social behaviour in Salford Quays are working. Coun Jonathan Moore raised the issue during a Salford council meeting on July 16, where he highlighted a 'significant' disturbance which took place last weekend. After a report from a resident about a gathering of people on Saturday around 5.30pm, he went to investigate what was happening - and said he came across a large group of young people causing disruption. READ MORE: 'We were at Manchester Airport for no longer than five minutes and we've been scammed' READ MORE: 'Extremely drunk' mum who swigged duty free booze 'didn't know where she was' when plane landed in Manchester 'There were a myriad of issues,' Coun Moore said during the meeting. 'It was on Mariner's Canal, it was 150 to 200 young people, there were big groups having big arguments and making lots of noise for residents. Never miss a story with the MEN's daily Catch Up newsletter - get it in your inbox by signing up here 'There was smoking cannabis, and there were a significant number of people jumping into the water. "They actually used one of the throwlines - which is there to save people's lives - but they were using it as a way of jumping into the water." He said he watched to see if there was any enforcement in the Quays while the incident was taking place, but claimed there was none during the 30 to 40 minutes he was there. Salford Quays has a public spaces protection order (PSPO) in place to prevent certain anti-social behaviours, including unauthorised swimming, and use of life-saving equipment other than in an emergency. However, Coun Moore said there was no sign of the order being used to stop the gathering he witnessed on Saturday. On Sunday, he emailed council and police officials to ask if there was any enforcement in the Quays during the incident. Join the Manchester Evening News WhatsApp group HERE He added: 'The answer to my questions were that, no, there was no enforcement from council officers taking place, because actually it's seen as a school-holiday issue, and there's a plan for it to start when the school holidays start. 'The answer from the police was that they had been abstracted to go to the Oasis concert, and therefore there was no police presence at the Quays.' Greater Manchester Police said there was no report of the incident in its logs. Coun Moore's Lib Dem colleague, Coun Paul Heilbron, said during the July 16 meeting that the PSPO has not been used once this year. Coun Barbara Bentham, Salford council's lead on community safety, said there is a 'robust action plan' in the Quays to respond to anti-social behaviour, including the PSPO. She added that the council will work with GMP to tackle any anti-social behaviour problems. Salford Quays is home to around 10,000 people living there, as well as people who travel to the area every day for work.
BBC News
2 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Sunderland City Council block 'unacceptable' HMO
Plans for a new shared home have been blocked after being labelled "unacceptable" and "harmful" by council development City Council has refused proposals for a house in multiple occupation (HMO) at Riversdale Terrace in Sunderland's Millfield ward, due to the number already in the area and risk of anti-social behaviour. Planners said the house, which was proposed to be converted into a seven-bedroom dwelling across three floors, would "lead to an overconcentration of HMOs" if applicant has the right to challenge the council refusal decision by lodging an appeal with the Secretary of State. The initial proposed site plan showed all HMO bedrooms offering an en-suite bathroom, and some bedrooms served by also stated there would be a bin storage area and noted no parking would be provided, although plans were later amended to provide one space, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said. 'Undermine quality of life' Council planners said there would be "adequate living space and an acceptable standard of amenity" for future they said its approval would result in the number of HMOs exceeding 10% of all residential properties within 100m (328ft), which went against council planning said the plans were an "inappropriate development" and would work against "the aim of creating places that are safe, inclusive and crime and disorder, and the fear of crime, do not undermine the quality of life or community cohesion and resilience".Northumbria Police also objected to those living in rooms on the second floor having to "travel the full height of the building to store food and prepare meals", as well as the "small amount of external space" and "potential for anti-social behaviour to spill out into the surrounding locality".Council planners concluded it would be "unacceptable as it would be considered to be harmful to the character and amenities of the area". Follow BBC Sunderland on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
4 days ago
- BBC News
Police claim crime fall from Gosport crackdown
Police have said a campaign to "reclaim and rebuild" a town has delivered a fall in Not in Our Town initiative has been targeting organised criminal gangs in Gosport, Hampshire, since April crime in the town fell by 2.6% in the year to April 2025 compared to the previous 12-month period, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary force was unable to give comparable figures for other areas. Gosport's data included a 63% drop in anti-social behaviour and a 52% reduction in robberies, police violence, violence with injury and burglaries also fell, according to the Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones said the town had been "blighted" for years with knife crime and drug dealing in the high street and around Insp Marcus Kennedy added: "These were organised crime networks coming down from Liverpool, moving their drugs through Hampshire and into Gosport." Youth charity Motiv8, one of the project partners, said two drugs gangs were initially next phase involved "suspending benefits and issuing housing notices to prevent individuals from re-establishing control", it said.A new gang began to emerge in January, but was swiftly disrupted, according to the charity. Police said drugs raids were carried out throughout the year, with 112 people being arrested.A "day of action" on 14 April 2025 also included searches of boats in Clarence Marina, the force rehabilitation was offered to 15 people who were responsible for more than 250 crimes in 2023 and 2024, Ms Jones visits and knife crime sessions were also held in an attempt to protect young people. Gosport Borough Council, another operation partner, said it had secured funding for security guards to deter begging in the town leader Peter Chegwyn said: "It's much better now. The whole atmosphere is improving."The Not in My Town campaign has entered a final phase that focusses on addressing the root causes of crime, police and Isle of Wight Constabulary as a whole recorded a 4% drop in crime, not including fraud, in the year to December, according to the Office for National Statistics.A separate measure - the Crime Survey for England and Wales - recorded a 14% rise in national crime, including fraud, over that period. You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
