A new legal order to help prevent and tackle anti-social behaviour in West Bromwich town centre is set to help make the area safer and boost trade.

Sandwell Council’s cabinet this week approved a public spaces protection order (PSPO) for the town centre, following concerns raised by local people and businesses. The three-year order – which received overwhelming support in a public consultation in the spring – will come into effect from the start of August. Councillor Elaine Costigan, cabinet member for public health and protection, said:

"We want everyone to feel safe, whether they are shopping, working or visiting the town centre. We have listened carefully to local people and taken action to respond to their concerns.

"The PSPO will be an extra power, used alongside other measures, to help the police and council prevent and tackle anti-social behaviour and give people added confidence to go about their lawful business."

Authorised council officers, police and police community support officers can enforce PSPOs. People breaching a PSPO face a fixed penalty notice of up to £100 or a fine of up to £1,000 on prosecution.

This order will ban the following activities within the restricted area:

Causing harassment, alarm or distress to anyone
Threatening violence or being verbally abusive to anyone
Begging or asking members of the public for money
Blocking the road or footpath with a vehicle or trailer

Councillor Costigan added: “People have raised concerns with us about begging in the town centre. We will protect vulnerable people and make sure they receive the support they need, while also tackling anyone begging aggressively or fraudulently.”

The PSPO for the town centre will complement existing PSPOs in place across the whole of Sandwell that restrict nuisance related to dogs and alcohol. Sandwell Police commander Chief Superintendent Richard Baker, chair of the Safer Sandwell Partnership, added:

"This is another great example of partnership working in Sandwell. Between the local authority, local communities and other key stakeholders in the area, we have listened to the concerns of the public and provided a solution that will enable us to target the real problem groups in the town and make people safer when visiting west Bromwich."

The council’s cabinet has asked for a further report after the order has been in place for three months to check how things are going.