Anti-social behaviour clampdown could start in 2026

The plan seeks to prevent street drinking and other behaviour across the borough

A town's clampdown on anti-social behaviour, including aggressive begging and dangerous e-bike and e-scooter riding, could be rolled out early next year.

Reading Council wants to introduce a borough-wide public spaces protection order (PSPO), which it said will make it easier to stop nuisance and is supported by police.

The authority said the measure, which will also seek to stop dog fouling, owners not controlling their dogs properly and street drinking, could be introduced in March 2026.

A council-run consultation was held between July and September, with 88% of respondents telling the authority they support the PSPO being introduced.

People who do not comply with the measure are expected to be given a warning initially but could be hit with a £100 fine if they continue to breach it.

The council said earlier in the year that it learned from a PSPO it implemented between 2018 and 2021.

It said that was "not as effective as had been hoped" because of a lack of enforcement.

Councillors will be told on Monday the new PSPO will "provide an additional tool to target those individuals who are acting in a manner that causes nuisance or disorder".

But it said it acknowledged that while "there are concerns that a PSPO could be used disproportionately" and that people feared they could be "targeted unfairly", the council sees it as a "preventative measure" predominantly.