Public urination and drug disposal ban in towns

The Public Spaces Protection Order applies to anyone over the age of 10

Riding an e-scooter, public urination and unsafe disposal of needles have been banned in three Staffordshire towns to clamp down on anti-social behaviour.

An updated Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) in Cannock Chase allows authorised officers to issue fines of £100 to anyone in breach of the new rules.

The district already had a PSPO in force prohibiting street drinking in defined areas, which expired on 1 February.

Cannock Chase District Council said the renewed order was a "proactive step" in tackling behaviour that affected "quality of life" for residents.

Riding an e-scooter is illegal on public land, outside of designated trials, but the order is designed to help clamp down on the issue.

The PSPO also bars unauthorised access to rooftops, loitering, nuisance driving and abandoning items which block public access.

It applies to Cannock, Hednesford and Rugeley town centres, as well as Rugeley's Ravenhill Park and Fernwood.

Public urination and unsafe disposal of drug paraphernalia was a particular issue in Cannock, the council said, but also affected Hednesford and Rugeley.

The order applies to anyone over the age of 10 and is enforced around the clock.

If fixed penalties are not paid within 14 days, a maximum fine of £1,000 could be imposed by a magistrate.

Ravenhill Park, Rugeley, is one of the areas where nuisance behaviours have been banned

Ch Insp Mat Walker from Staffordshire Police said it would enable the force to respond proportionately to ongoing concerns.

"Our officers and those from the council's Community Safety team deal with issues of anti-social behaviour each and every day, and the order will allow us to be more effective when supporting our communities," he added.

The council said the previous PSPO prohibiting alcohol consumption had been successful in reducing "previously unacceptable levels of anti-social behaviour".

Cannock Chase councillor David Williams said behaviours in breach of the order would be addressed "with a combination of support and enforcement".

"This updated Public Spaces Protection Order is a proactive step in tackling anti-social behaviour that can affect the quality of life for our residents," he added.