Democracy in Crawley

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Extension to Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) - Car Cruising

03/02/2022 - Extension to Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) - Car Cruising

RESOLVED

 

That Full Council be recommended to approve the following items:

 

a)         the extenisons for a period of 3 years the Borough wide Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) to prohibit vehicle related anti-social behaviour associated with car cruise activity in the borough of Crawley as set out in Appendix A of report CH/195.

 

b)         that fixed penalties imposed for breaches of the PSPO be maintained at £100.

 

 

Reasons for the Recommendations

 

A PSPO can target a range of behaviours and can prohibit specified activities or require certain things to be done by people engaged in certain activities.  PSPO’s can send a clear message that certain behaviours will not be tolerated and help reassure residents and businesses that unreasonable conduct is being addressed. 

 

Council officers from a number of services including ASB, Community Wardens and Community Safety consider it necessary to extend the PSPO in order to prevent an increase in the in frequency and/or seriousness of car cruise activity after the current PSPO expires.  The extension is also supported by the Police, Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), and West Sussex County Council.

 

The current PSPO has had some success at controlling the incidence of car cruise activity, particularly in relation to repeat offenders.  However, the incidence of car cruise incidents continues to occur and there are currently regular gatherings including those occurring late into the evening and early hours of the morning between the hours of 22:00 and 03:00.

 

The extension of the PSPO will continue to enhance public safety through a targeted approach to tackle the problems associated with car cruise activity.