Police will be able to break up groups of 3 or more at Wolverhampton retail park from next week as order granted

Officers will also be able to order people to remove face coverings at Bentley Bridge retail park in Wednesfield under new rules approved by Wolverhampton Council's cabinet last night (Wednesday).

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The new rules will be in force for the next three years after councillors agreed to implement a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO).

The cabinet was told that the public had demonstrated overwhelming support for the action during a consultation exercise.

The order gives police powers to order groups of three or more people to leave the area if there is reason to believe they were causing, or likely to cause, a nuisance, and to remove face coverings if they have no reasonable grounds to wear them.

A similar order has been in force in Wolverhampton city centre since 2024.

The proposals were put forward to tackle a steady increase in anti-social behaviour, largely involving groups of youths, in and around the retail and leisure park in recent years.



The council said the order had been specifically developed to target those responsible, and 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.

Councillor Obaida Ahmed, cabinet member for health, wellbeing and community, said the order in the city centre had contributed to a 16 per cent fall in recorded crime, including a 50 per cent fall in robberies.

She said: "Bentley Bridge is an incredibly popular retail and leisure venue and we want to ensure it remains a welcoming and safe place for everyone to visit.

"Public Spaces 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.

"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 will 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 positive impact that a similar PSPO introduced in Wolverhampton city centre, and we look forward to seeing this new PSPO delivering a similar outcome at Bentley Bridge."