City of Lincoln Council’s Executive will meet later this month to discuss plans to extend a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) currently in place in Lincoln’s multi-storey car parks.
At the meeting on 18 September, members will discuss the extension of the existing PSPO at Lucy Tower, Broadgate and Lincoln Central multi-storey car parks.
In October 2014 the Secretary of State enacted new powers from the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act, relevant to tackling Anti-Social Behaviour. Since the PSPO was adopted in Lincoln in 2020, the car parks included have become much safer.
PSPOs are more flexible and can be applied to a much broader range of issues, with local authorities having the ability to design and implement their own prohibitions or requirements where certain conditions are met.
For Lincoln, the PSPO in place at the car parks means no person in the restricted area can engage in any of the following activities:
- Ingesting, inhaling, injecting, smoking or otherwise using and intoxicating substance unless for an exempted use
- Any activity likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress to any other person
- Congregating in a group of two or more persons so as to cause and obstruction or give reasonable grounds for annoyance to any person
- Loitering without a permitted purpose
- Anti-social behaviour, including but not limited to public urination defecation, or any other unacceptable or offensive behaviour.
Prior to the PSPO being introduced in 2020, the city council had received a significant number of complaints about anti-social behaviour (ASB) taking place in these car parks.
Thanks to this new order in place the city council, along with Lincolnshire Police, has been able to deal with individuals within the multi-storey car parks to reduce anti-social behaviour.
Cllr Sue Burke, Portfolio Holder for Reducing Inequality at City of Lincoln Council, said: “Introducing a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) in these car parks has assisted Lincolnshire Police and the city council in dealing with individuals whose behaviour has had a detrimental effect on other people’s quality of life.
“We want people to enjoy Lincoln and use these car parks knowing they are in a safe and welcoming environment. We are committed to ensuring our city centre continues to be a safe place to visit.
“This PSPO allows us to tackle the issues faced in these car parks and also allow us to support those in need.
“It is really important for residents, businesses and visitors to Lincoln that we keep these car parks as safe as possible and I look forward to discussing this further with colleagues at Executive.”