A consultation has been launched in Countesthorpe on proposals to deal with anti-social behaviour complaints in the village.

Plans to introduce a Public Spaces Protection Order in the area are being considered following 133 reports of ASB to Blaby District Council and Leicestershire Police between September 2015 to April 2016. This is a significant increase compared to 110 reports for 12 months from April 2014-April 2015.

In response to the reports, local Police teams have been carrying out daily targeted patrols with the Council’s ASB Officer. There has also been work with individual’s and families offering support and advice.

Positive interventions have already been put in place, including using the BB19 Youth Bus and providing sports sessions organised by the Youth Offending Impact Team to engage with young people.

However, a group of young people continue to cause anti-social behaviour in the village.

It is hoped that the Public Spaces Protection Order will enable the authorities to respond better to the issues in the local community, with the order applying to every young person in Countesthorpe; it will be applied at the discretion of local officers.

Conditions

The proposed conditions being consulted on are for those aged 10-17 not to:

• Gather in groups of more than four people (Restrictions would not apply where crowds are unavoidable, including school journeys or at a bus stop)
• Behave in a way that is likely to cause harassment, alarm and distress
• Be in the possession of, or consume alcohol
• Use, possess or supply any intoxicating substances including “legal highs”

Inspector Dan Eveleigh, Neighbourhood Policing Area Commander for Hinckley and Blaby, said:

“We want to ensure that young people enjoy their time outdoors with friends, but don’t cause significant disruption or distress to the local residents.

“We also want to send a message that involvement with alcohol or legal highs for this age group is unacceptable, and our planned Public Spaces Protection Order will give us the opportunity to take action against such behaviour where necessary.”

The consultation is taking place with visits to local residents and work with the Parish Council, local shops and schools.

Any Public Space Protection Order would be in place for six months, with any breach of conditions potentially leading to formal action being taken by the Police or Blaby District Council. Breaches will be considered on a case by case basis.

Officers from Blaby District Council and Leicestershire Police have been carrying out a door to door consultations.

The consultation document is available on the Blaby District Council website at www.blaby.gov.uk/consultation.