A new antisocial protection order includes a potential fine of up to £1000 for begging in certain public spaces.  

Bicester’s new Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) came into force on June 21, after Cherwell District Council’s Executive approved the proposal on June 6, 2022.

The order grants community wardens and the police new powers to tackle behaviour such as loitering in a way which causes, or is likely to cause, antisocial behaviour, street drinking and begging.

A 3-week consultation was undertaken in March to gauge public opinion on the order, which received 407 responses.

An analysis of the responses showed that 93% of respondents said yes to prohibiting antisocial behaviour through a PSPO, 86% said yes to prohibiting street drinking, but just 60% agreed the order should include begging in the town centre.

Councillor for Bicester West, Les Sibley, said: “It’s a difficult one. I’m not sure what the right answer is on this.

“I just feel sorry that we can’t do more. We are doing what we can by providing safe havens for homeless people, but unfortunately various hardships at the moment make it difficult.”

The PSPO comes after years of frequently recorded antisocial behaviour in the town centre.

Figures show that between May 2021 and March 2022 a total of 145 antisocial behaviour incidents were recorded.

The Council’s Community Safety Team have undertaken several specific operations to reduce antisocial behaviour over the last few years.

Read more: Shakespeare is coming to Bicester Cricket Club

During 2018 and 2019 they dealt with reports of problematic begging linked to a group of adults who congregated on Sheep Street to drink.

The problem was eventually resolved after the team issued Community Protection Warnings to individuals to warn them that formal legal action would follow if the behaviour did not cease.

As a result, begging has been included in the scope of the PSPO.

A spokesperson for Cherwell District Council said: “The council recognises that people engaged in begging are often vulnerable and in need of support.

The new formal enforcement powers given to our officers will only be used proportionately, in cases of persistent begging linked to antisocial behaviour.

“The community safety team’s approach will continue to focus on informal engagement with members of the community, and this includes referring people at risk of rough sleeping to the support services that are available in the district for people at risk of homelessness.

“Our experience operating a PSPO in Banbury shows that the restrictions on certain activities provide a fresh opportunity for our officers to engage with people who may be vulnerable.

“Historically this work has seen the team identify cases of cuckooing, modern slavery and vulnerable people being ‘placed’ in an area to beg for organised criminal gangs, important intelligence which may not have been gathered without a PSPO.”

 

Read more from this author

This story was written by Matthew Norman, he joined the team in 2022 as a Facebook community reporter.

Matthew covers Bicester and focuses on finding stories from diverse communities.

Get in touch with him by emailing: Matthew.norman@newsquest.co.uk

Follow him on Twitter: @OxMailMattN1

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