Some of the reports of anti-social behaviour include public urination
Residents have welcomed the introduction of a protection order in a town centre following fights breaking out and people urinating in public. Last week, Huntingdonshire District Council introduced a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) to cover the town centre following an increase in reports of anti-social behaviour.
Residents who claim they’ve seen people urinating in public, harassing members of the public and causing disorder to people are welcoming the PSPO. Ian Wagstaff said it is a “very positive and necessary step”.
He said: “I have seen a range of recurring issues, mostly around St Benedict’s Court where large groups of people gather drinking, shouting and getting into fights. It also occurs in All Saints’ Church Yard, and on the benches by Sainsbury’s.”
For parents like Ian, he said anti-social behaviour can be “scary for families” and make them feel “unsafe”. He added: “My main concern is that our shared public spaces stop being welcoming and inclusive for everyone.
“No one should feel afraid, uncomfortable or forced to avoid parts of their own town. It also hits our economy hard, when people feel put off visiting shops.
“Over time, this behaviour erodes community spirit, lowers pride in our town and creates a divide between those who use spaces responsibly and those who disrupt them.”
Ian believes the PSPO is not a “cure-all of its own”, but it is an “essential foundation” to try and sort the problem. He said: “It gives authorities clear, consistent powers to intervene early and stop low-level disorder before it gets worse.
“It will work best alongside ongoing community engagement, better access to support for those who need it, and continued investment in our town centre.”
One woman, who wished to remain anonymous, also thinks the PSPO will be a “good thing”. From her flat, she continues to see acts of anti-social behaviour, including drug dealing and public drinking.
These take place at a park near her flat, which is covered by the PSPO. She added: “It’s quite concerning. I think it’s a shame that people bring this part of town down. It’s somewhere I don’t feel comfortable going on my own.”
On the PSPO, the woman said it highlights that “people don’t want that sort of behaviour in the town centre”. She added: “I just think it needs to be enforced because otherwise they will just carry on and do it.”
Another woman, who also wished to not be named, said she “constantly sees kids messing about in the centre”, as well as people “peeing in the street”. “It’s disgusting,” she said.
The woman added: “It makes people seem quite intimidating and then it puts you off going to the city centre. The police don’t seem to be around when you need them.
“However, this PSPO will hopefully be better as it will stop people committing crimes or being annoying. Then, it won’t make people so it won’t make people so worried about going into town.”
Mark Chandler, who lives in the Oxmoor estate in Huntingdon, feels the PSPO is a “great idea”, however he feels the area it covers is “limited”. He said: “Oxmoor has been forgotten about, they don’t care about the estate.
“We have problems around here. We have people going on motorbikes up and down the path, and Oxmoor is a cannabis centre. The police are not interested. They have the PSPO for the centre but not for anywhere else like here.”
Mark wants to see the police more “active” in Oxmoor, as well as the town centre. He said: “If this PSPO could be brought up to Oxmoor, it would make such a difference.”
A Cambridgeshire Police spokesperson said the PSPO has been introduced following concerns of anti-social behaviour and associated criminality including: drunkenness, urination or defecation, abusive language, intimidation, and behaviour that causes alarm or distress.
The spokesperson added: “Police have worked with Huntingdonshire District Council, housing providers, health services, charities, Probation and other agencies to reduce harm and address the underlying causes of these issues, however the proposed PSPO would provide an additional and proportionate tool to help prevent persistent and unreasonable behaviour from continuing, recurring or escalating in public spaces.
If approved, the order would allow specific restrictions or requirements to be enforced, with breaches potentially resulting in a fixed penalty notice or prosecution.
“The proposed order is intended to improve the quality of life for those who live, work in, and visit Huntingdon town centre, while supporting businesses and partners in making the area safer and more welcoming.
“Similar PSPOs have been used elsewhere in Huntingdonshire to address comparable issues and have been positively received by communities and partner agencies. We would work jointly with the district council to enforce the PSPO.”
Huntingdonshire District Council has been approached for further comment.
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