Should police break up groups of three or more? Wolverhampton Council invites public to have its say
The public is to be asked whether police should be given the power to break up groups of people at a Wolverhampton retail park.
New rules which will give police the power to break up groups of three or more people are being considered for the Bentley Bridge retail park in Wednesfield.
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It follows reports to both the police and local authority of large groups of youths gathering at the site, particularly at weekends, behaving in an anti-social manner, disrupting businesses and intimidating customers.
The council is now holding a consultation on whether police should be given powers to ask groups of three or more people to leave the area if there is reason to believe they are likely to cause a nuisance, and to remove face coverings if they have no reasonable grounds to wear them.
It follows a similar measure introduced in Wolverhampton city centre last year,. which the council says contributed to contributing to a 16 per cent fall in recorded crime and a 50 reduction in robberies.
The authority said it would would not affect people gathering to shop or visit the retail and leisure park, nor would it discriminate against those legitimately wearing a face covering for example for medical reasons or religious purposes.
Cabinet member for health, wellbeing and community, Councillor Obaida Ahmed, said she wanted Bentley Bridge to remain a welcoming and safe place for everyone to visit.
"Public space protection orders are designed to ensure the law-abiding majority can continue to use and enjoy public spaces, safe from the threat of anti-social behaviour or nuisance," she said.
"Data shows an increase in incidents of anti-social behaviour in the area over recent years, and, where a group of people or an individual is likely to cause, or is causing, anti-social behaviour, the PSPO would give police the authority to ask them to leave the area and remove any face coverings being purposefully used to disguise their identity.
“We’ve seen the impact that the city centre PSPO has had, and we want to hear what residents, businesses and visitors to Bentley Bridge think of these proposals – so please have your say.”
People can give their opinions on the website consultation.wolverhampton.gov.uk/cwc/bentleybridgepspo/
A spokesman for Wednesfield and Heath Town policing team said officers and the local authority were putting on extra patrols around the centre and surrounding areas, working with businesses and site security teams.
"The local neighbourhood team will continue to patrol and provide reassurance around the Bentley Bridge, working with our schools officers to identify and educate those involved."
