Shoppers welcome new anti-social behaviour powers

Police will be able to ban anyone suspected of anti-social behaviour from areas for up to 12 hours

Councillors are set to grant more powers to police and their own wardens to tackle anti-social behaviour in a seaside town.

Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) were first introduced in Great Yarmouth in 2016.

On Thursday 20 March, councillors are set to extend the terms of a previous order, to include the riding of bikes and scooters in pedestrian zones, as well as addressing urination, defecation, begging and the abandonment of possessions.

Councillor Paul Wells, portfolio holder for environment , said: "We are focused on changing unacceptable behaviour that affects the lives of our residents and visitors."

Yasmin Harwood, who runs Sweet Treats market stall, says anti-social behaviour can put shoppers off coming into town

PSPOs also exist in the borough to tackle dog control and fouling, and a separate order to reduce car-derived anti-social behaviour on the sea front.

The proposal had been due to be decided in January, but the decision was delayed for further work on the documents.

Yasmin Harwood, who owns the Sweet Treats stall on the market, cited one homeless person causing a particular nuisance with her possessions.

She said: "Shopping trolleys full of cardboard boxes, rubbish and human excrement [abandoned] down the passages.

"Men as well as females urinating down the passages, to much drinking in the town and nothing is being done.

"[It] 100% puts people off; I've walked past them in the passage seeing them doing it. I don't need to see it and the holidaymakers don't need to see it."

Mel Wright, of Market Cards, believes many people feel unsafe when they see anti-social behaviour in the town centre

Market Cards owner Mel Wright says it is not pleasant to witness some of the anti-social behaviour that goes on in the town centre.

Ms Wright said: "It's not just one-off things, it's every day or two or three times a day and it's very off-putting for members of the public to come up and have to witness some of these things."

The powers will also help tackle those who ride bikes, e-scooters and electric bikes on pavements and through pedestrianised areas.

"It will be brilliant if they can do that [take action]," she said.

"Many of the residents are elderly; it's a danger for them and also the children running around.

"People are still using bikes and scooters; they don't care. They just go straight through people and someone is going to get seriously hurt, so hopefully they can sort it."

David Durrant and Jayne Cole say the town's record for anti-social behaviour means they will not relocate to the town from Wroxham

David Durrant, 64, from Wroxham, said: "I think it would be a good idea [to grant more powers]. We don't need it [anti-social behaviour]."

His partner Jayne Cole, 63, said Great Yarmouth's reputation for anti-social issues causes them some conflict.

"We would come in more," she said.

"He would like to live here, but I won't live here. It was voted the worst town in Norfolk. Too much aggro."

If the problems were tackled, she would consider about conceding to her partner's wish: "I'd think about it but at the minute, no."

Susan Bayfield says she would use the town more if anti-social behaviour was reduced through new powers

Susan Bayfield, 69, from Great Yarmouth is frightened by cyclists and scooter riders using pavements and pedestrianised areas.

She said: "I think they should [tackle it] because it's dangerous. The amount of times I've been nearly knocked down by people on bikes and scooters riding through, I think they should have more power to stop things going on.

"It's just not on. It never used to be like this."

She said the level of antisocial behaviour puts her off using the town centre more often, and that she would if she felt more was being done to tackle it.

"You don't feel safe walking about the town half the time," she added.

Paul O'Neill says he welcomes additional powers but believes it will be a challenge to curb anti-social behaviour

Paul O'Neill, 40, works in the town centre. He said: "Even though signs have been put up by Boots [the Chemist] that say "dismount cycles", they aren't dismounting them.

"There's a lot of antisocial behaviour with young kids, under 16s in stores. There needs to be a lot more done about it, definitely."

Asked if the new powers will work, if existing signage is not, he added: "I doubt it. I believe the street wardens they're the only people that can deal with it."

Councillor Wells added: "We regularly receive complaints about the increase of highly visible street drinking and people feeling intimidated by a range of other anti-social behaviour.

"We have listened to what people want for their community and this new order will be an important step in helping us ensure we have a safer and more welcoming environment that we know people want.

"This new Public Spaces Protection Order will enable council officers and the police to take swift action against offenders."

Councillor Paul Wells said residents have contacted the council asking more is done to tackle anti-social behaviour