Antisocial behaviour crackdown to be introduced in Chorley town centre

New rules are to be introduced to crack down on the menacing use of e-scooters, powered bikes and pedal cycles in and around Chorley town centre.

Problems caused by alcohol, drugs, begging and “illegal encampments” are amongst the other issues that a new public space protection order (PSPO) aims to tackle. 

The regulations – designed to drive out antisocial behaviour and low-level crime –  have been approved by Chorley Council’s cabinet.

The decision came with a call for an improved response from the non-emergency 101 number operated by Lancashire Police – with claims that it often takes 10 minutes for the phoneline to be answered.

The new PSPO has been drawn up after a previous order was allowed to lapse in December 2023.   Cabinet members were told a replacement was now deemed necessary because “antisocial behaviour persists”, having an impact on “public safety, perceptions of the area, and the overall visitor experience” 

The fresh list of rules is heavier on specifics than its predecessor, which contained a provision relating to street drinking and a catch-all ban on any behaviour likely to cause alarm or annoyance.

In response to a public consultation into the proposed PSPO earlier in the summer – as well as evidence from the police and the council’s own in-house services – the new order aims to tackle individual issues that have been highlighted as a problem.

It means anyone cycling, skateboarding, or riding an electric bike or scooter can be ordered to dismount if they are considered to be doing so in a “malicious and/or dangerous manner as to cause harassment, alarm or distress”.

Making requests for money in an “intimidating or obstructive” way – including by sitting close to cash machines and shop entrances – is also outlawed and erecting tents banned.

Meanwhile, anybody requested to do so must hand over alcohol in their possession and individuals must not use “intoxicating substances” or controlled drugs in a public place.

The area within which the PSPO applies has been extended slightly to include the area around the Morrisons store on Brooke Street.   It already incorporated Astley Park and the Ackhurst and Judeland woodlands.

Breaches of the rules – which are to be enforced by authorised council officials, police officers and police and community support officers – can result in fixed penalty notices of £100.

The cabinet meeting heard that concerns had been expressed by some town centre shopkeepers at the length of time it takes for calls to 101 to be answered.

Reform UK opposition group leader Mark Perks said he had been told by traders that it could be “eight to 10 minutes” before the phone was picked up.  He said they needed “reassurance” that their calls were “taken seriously and [that] something is going to be done”.

Alistair Bradley, the council’s Labour leader, said he had been told of one couple who had waited for half an hour on the phone before writing it off as “a waste of time”.

“We need to demand a better service from the police,” Cllr Bradley said.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service approached Lancashire Police for a response to the issues raised.   A spokesperson for the force said:  “101 calls are answered by priority depending on demand that day.

“There are alternative ways to report crime – you can report online or, when calling 101, you can use our call-back assistance system.

“In an emergency, please call 999.” 

Meanwhile, cabinet member for early intervention Bev Murray told the meeting it was important that anyone who witnesses or experiences an incident or has concerns about antisocial behaviour does always report the matter to the police.

“Unless they report it, it doesn’t get on anybody’s radar,” Cllr Murray added. 

Cllr Perks suggested that teams from the town’s youth zone could be “encouraged to go out” to engage with problem teens on the street.

The meeting heard that many of the youths that fall into that category had been banned from the facility – which opened in 2018 – because of their past behaviour.

Cllr Bradley said they nevertheless then liked to hang around nearby – and he praised the youth zone for the efforts he said it was making to ensure that those youngsters were still getting “the services they need”.

“I think it is testament to the youth zone’s impact that the antisocial behaviour levels in Chorley are hugely less than before [it] was built.”   

Meanwhile, Cllr Perks told cabinet members he believed the PSPO should include Steeley Lane, which he said had recently been the scene of a vicious attack on one one schoolgirl by several others – and where shops were also being targeted by youths.

Cllr Bradley said the most problematic part of that route – close to the underpass – was covered by the new order, while Cllr Murray said the authority had to consider the risk of extending the PSPO so far that it simply pushed problems “out of the town centre and into other areas”.

THE RULES IN FULL

The Chorley town centre PSPO states:

***No person shall, whilst within the Restricted Area, place themselves in a position that implies they are begging for money or attempting to solicit in a manner that is intimidating or obstructive and includes (but not limited to) repeated requests for money, following a person, placing themselves within five metres of cash machines, shop entrances or car park ticket and payment machines, intentionally hindering or obstructing the free passage of a person. 

***No persons shall obstruct a building entrance or exit, stairwell, or highway in the Restricted Area.

***Person(s) within the Restricted Area will not erect or occupy tents or other temporary structures in a public space without the permission of Chorley Borough Council. 

***Person(s) within the Restricted Area will not behave in any way which could reasonably cause harassment, alarm or distress to another person. This will include but is not limited to using verbal insults, making sexually inappropriate comments or gestures. 

***Person(s) within the Restricted Area will not urinate or defecate in a public place, except when using a designated public convenience.

***Person(s) within the Restricted Area will not, use a bicycle, electric bicycle, scooter, skateboard or similar wheeled conveyance in a manner that they know, or ought to know, will cause, harassment, or distress to others nearby. 

***Person(s) within the Restricted Area will not ingest, inhale, inject, smoke or otherwise use Intoxicating Substances and/or Controlled Drugs in a public space. 

***Upon the request by an Authorised Person, any person(s) shall immediately surrender any Alcohol, container of Alcohol, or anything in their possession which the Authorised Person reasonably believes to be Alcohol or a container of Alcohol, except where that person is on premises exempted by Section 62 of the Act.

***An Authorised Person may request a person to dismount if they are cycling, skateboarding, hover-boarding, riding an electric bike, riding a scooter, or using similar devices within the Restricted Area where they reasonably suspect that the person is riding in a malicious and/or dangerous manner as to cause harassment, alarm or distress to any person within that area. 

***Any person who is using sound amplification equipment in any place (other than premises or vehicles where these activities are permitted under their licence conditions) within the Restricted Area, shall comply with a request made by an Authorised Person to reduce the volume or stop using the amplification equipment. Such a request shall only be made by an Authorised Person when they reasonably consider the noise to be unreasonable.

***It is an offence for a person without reasonable excuse to engage in any activity that is prohibited by this Order or, to fail to comply with any requirement of this Order.