Views sought on extending public protection order

The  consultation runs from Monday until 23 August

A consultation is under way on plans to extend public space protection orders (PSPOs) in two Devon towns.

West Devon Borough Council said it wanted to hear from residents about alcohol PSPOs in Tavistock and Okehampton.

The authority said the PSPOs helped to tackle alcohol-related disorder.

The consultation runs from Monday until 23 August.

'Spoil the enjoyment'

The council said it was also consulting whether the current PSPOs in the towns, which end in November, needed to be extended or amended.

Councillor Jane Elliott, lead member for community wellbeing, said it was "rare" to use PSPOs in west Devon because most residents and visitors were "considerate to others".

"However, it’s good to have them there to fall back on for those rare cases when individuals abuse alcohol and spoil the enjoyment of public spaces for others," said Ms Elliott.

“Please take five minutes to see if the current and new proposed PSPOs sound about right. Is there a new area which we haven’t identified somewhere else that we need to think about?

"Please let us know because these could benefit many of us in the future."

The council said: "People not following instructions within the selected PSPO areas can have their alcohol removed by Devon and Cornwall Police, be instructed to leave the area for a set amount of time and can be fined up to £1,000 when prosecuted."