While Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) are typically imposed for nuisances such as dog fouling, some are in place to combat ‘car cruising’, usually by young men. Examples of such PSPOs are at Milton Keynes, Basildon, Peterborough and Birmingham and in the Home Counties Thurrock and Crawley.
West Lancashire reports that it has seen a significant increase in pre-arranged car meets at Pimbo Industrial Estate, in Skelmersdale. The council says that often over 300 vehicles attend. These ‘car meets’ arranged online are hard to police because they crop up without warning. Skelmersdale Police have provided evidence to support the application for a PSPO. Police would have the power to stop the gatherings of car cruisers and racers who are causing, or likely to cause, nuisance.
Councillor Gareth Dowling, Deputy Leader of West Lancashire Council and portfolio holder for communities and community safety, said: “The feedback we received from the public consultation overwhelmingly approved this action and confirmed the strength of feeling residents have about the gatherings. The council sought to take decisive action over these unauthorised meetings – the time has now come to put a stop to them.
“Residents and businesses have endured the significant impacts these gatherings of performance cars have had and we hope this news will bring them some relief.”
Castle Point Council in Essex has made a PSPO covering the Roscommon Way area of Canvey Island on 5 September 2022 for three years. It’s to tackle car cruising activity as a passenger or driver of a vehicle ; and congregating in the area to spectate. The detail of the order prohibits speeding; convoy driving; stunts such as wheel spins; sounding horns and revving engines; or recording any cruising on a device.
About Public Space Protection Orders
PSPOs were introduced by the Anti-Social Behaviour Crime and Policing Act 2014. The Act gives local government powers against anything that persistently has ‘a detrimental effect upon the quality of life of those in the locality’, typically dog fouling and anti-social behaviour.
More in the October 2022 print edition of Professional Security magazine.
