Supt Sam De Reya (right) with Cllr Stephen Brimble, Lead Councillor for Place, in front of one of the PSPO signs. Image: Exeter City Council.

Making Exeter safer and clamping down on anti-social behaviour

The streets of Exeter are set to become safer following the introduction of a new scheme aimed at reducing antisocial behaviour (ASB).

The Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) - approved by the City Council last year, will help the police deal with nuisances or problems detrimental to people’s quality of life. Any money raised through fines will be used to help fund community schemes.

Signs are now in place across the city explaining how the PSPO works and what areas it covers.

The PSPO covers the city centre, parts of St Thomas, and includes Bury Meadow, Bull Meadow, and the Quay. Discretion will be exercised in the first few months to help educate people that ASB is not acceptable. Signs encourage people to behave in an orderly and respectful way. The PSPO replaces the previous Designated Public Place Order.

The following activities are offences within the PSPO:

Failure to comply with an officer’s request to stop taking intoxicating substances such as alcohol and illegal drugs in a public space
Aggressive begging which is in an intimidating manner or begging with five metres of an automatic pay point or cash point.
Urinating in a public place
Behaving in an anti-social manner either when part of a group or alone.

Where a group is acting in an anti-social manner, they may be directed to leave the area by an authorised officer for a period of up to six hours.

Failure to comply with a PSPO will allow the Police and Council officers to issue Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) of up to £100 or the individual may face prosecution. A breach is a criminal offence and liable on summary conviction to a maximum penalty of £1,000.

In appropriate circumstances a reduced or zero fee FPN may be issued in conjunction with an Acceptable Behaviour Contract. To coincide with the introduction of the PSPO, Musgrave Row toilets will be open 24 hours a day unless they have to be closed due to unforeseen circumstances.

Further information can be found at www.exeter.gov.uk/PSPO