Council gets tougher on anti social behaviour

These will mean anyone breaching restrictions under the city's newly updated Public Space(s) Protection order facing fixed penalty fines of £100 compared with the current £75 fine.

Key changes to the Public Space(s) Protection order which comes into force from Saturday 1 May, include:

- A ban on spitting or discarding chewing gum in open public spaces
- A ban on motorcycles or quad bikes being ridden in any open public space
- The requirement for anyone in charge of a dog to be able to produce a dog bag or other appropriate receptacle to clean up after it
- A ban on skateboards, scooters, bicycles or self-propelled vehicles to be used in a way that would cause damage to property or annoyance to other people in the area
- A restriction on unauthorised events being held on adopted highways
- A ban on loitering/begging on the highway or in any pedestrian area for money or otherwise
- A ban on public urination or defecation in anywhere other than a public toilet
- Prevention of bin raking (i.e. searching and/or taking items from rubbish bins or bags)

The new measures are being brought in following an extensive public consultation exercise in response to residents' calls for more enforcement action which was one of the key things to come out of the City Council's Let's Talk consultation in 2020.

Fiona Brown, Executive Director of Neighbourhoods, said: "We know from our Let's Talk consultation that the environment is a top priority for our residents and that they want to see more enforcement action.

"So these new measures are very much aimed at addressing the concerns residents told us were affecting their quality of life and getting tough on the kind of anti social behaviour that has a real impact on our communities."