NEW public safety orders which could be used as a ‘tool’ to crack down on anti-social behaviour in Weymouth are one step closer to coming into force.

A proposal to introduce Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs) in and around the town centre has been recommended for approval by Weymouth and Portland Borough Council’s policy development committee.

PSPOs are a new measure to give councils power to deal with anti-social behaviour problems which are having an effect on people in certain areas.

Replacing older public orders, PSPOs are different in that they are enforceable with a fixed penalty notice of £100, usually from a police officer.

Peter Davis, Community Safety Manager at Dorset Councils Partnership, said: “We will be using them (PSPOs) as a tool to say Weymouth has had enough and that we won’t tolerate it anymore.”

It comes after Weymouth and Portland Borough Council consulted residents on introducing PSPOs.

Yobs drinking on the seafront and other public areas and problems associated with street begging are major issues locally, and a public consultation showed many are supportive of measures to sort this out with proper enforcement.

A report put before the committee proposed that PSPOs should be used to enforce restrictions on alcohol related anti-social behaviour, begging, feeding of gulls and cycling.

Councillor Mark Tewksbury said he was concerned that people would move outside of the proposed alcohol restriction zone outlined in the report.

However, officers said the map of the PSPO areas was based on evidence from police, which showed problem areas. They also said that the proposed PSPOs would be introduced for three years, so they can be amended if needed.

Councillor Ryan Hope said: “I need to know how we are going to tackle vulnerable people because this is where people will expect to see the policy used.”

The report says orders will prohibit begging in the town centre – supporting a multi-agency approach to deal with “persistent and problem individuals”.

Mr Davis said: “We understand there are concerns regarding vulnerable people which is why we have to do it sensibly. The majority of vulnerable people are known to us and our agencies.”

Councillors were also concerned about the scope of the restriction zone for begging.

Cllr Tewkesbury said: “If you are on the street and are begging, you will soon find out where the line stops and where it starts. We are going to move the problem, not deal with it.”

Councillors suggested extending the scope to parts of the esplanade, but officers explained that much of the land is privately owner. The committee agreed that the scope should be reviewed after 12 months instead of the proposed three years to gather evidence about whether problem areas have changed.

Councillors also agreed to a restriction zone, which will make it illegal to feed gulls within parts of the town centre and seafront.

Cllr Kimber, said a nasty seagull stole his ice cream along the seafront and Cllr Bruce suggested the restriction should be widened to include other breeds of birds, including crows, however this wasn’t accepted.

Councillors also agreed to suspend the current bylaw prohibiting cycling on the seafront and replacing with a PSPO, prohibiting cycling only when it is likely to have a detrimental effect at busy periods – so between 10am-5.30pm from May 1 to September 30.

The recommendation will now go to the management committee for a decision.