Council officers target anti-social behaviour in Hemel Hempstead town centre

Two cyclists received fixed penalty notices for cycling in the Marlowes as council officers carried out a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) enforcement operation to tackle anti-social behaviour in Hemel Hempstead's town centre.

On Wednesday, July 22, the council officers were assisted by the Safer Neighbourhood Team to tackle nuisance cycling and skateboarding in the Marlowes area of the town centre.

The Hemel Hempstead town centre PSPO was introduced in July 2019 to address certain anti-social behaviours, including cycling and skateboarding in the Marlowes.

Breaching a PSPO can result in a £75 fixed penalty notice.

During the day, Council Enforcement Officers issued warnings to a number of cyclists and skateboarders, and two cyclists received fixed penalty notices.

Additionally, two of the cyclists stopped during the operation were arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply class B drugs, after police officers conducted a stop and search procedure.

Cllr Julie Banks, portfolio holder for community and regulatory services, said: “Our town centre PSPO is vitally important to ensure residents can enjoy the Marlowes.

"We don't want to stop people visiting and shopping in our town centre but we do want to tackle the behaviour of the minority who have a detrimental impact on the lives of others.”

Council officers and police have been regularly patrolling the Marlowes for potential breaches of the PSPO and another enforcement operation is planned later in the summer.

The council does not wish to discourage people from cycling into town. Cyclists can still cycle down Waterhouse Street to avoid cycling through the Marlowes.

PSPOs were introduced in October 2014 by the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 and are designed to allow councils to deal with a particular nuisance or problem behaviour in a particular area - a public space - that is damaging to the local community's quality of life.

Failure to comply with a PSPO could result in a fixed penalty notice fine or prosecution.

Visitors to Hemel Hempstead and dog owners within the borough are asked to take note of the restrictions set out in the PSPOs.

For more information about the Hemel Hempstead town centre PSPO and Dacorum-wide dog PSPO visit: www.dacorum.gov.uk/pspo.