Cyclist ordered to pay over £500 for breach of Hemel Hempstead town centre protection order

A cyclist was ordered to pay over £500 after he was found guilty for breaching the Hemel Hempstead town centre Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO).

Jamie Thomas of Malvern Way, Hemel Hempstead, was found guilty at St Albans Magistrates Court on September 2, and ordered to pay a total of £563, which consisted of a fine of £220, a £32 victim surcharge and costs of £311.

Police had witnessed Mr Thomas riding a bicycle through the Marlowes and the Water Gardens Car Park on Saturday, January 18, both of which are prohibited activities under the PSPO.

Mr Thomas was issued a £75 fixed penalty notice for breach of the order but no payment was made.

Council enforcement officers, with assistance from the Dacorum Safer Neighbourhoods Team, regularly patrol the town centre for people who may be breaching the order.

Since the PSPO came into effect in July last year, Dacorum Borough Council has issued 43 warnings and 13 fixed penalty notices for breaches of the town centre PSPO.

Cllr Julie Banks, portfolio holder for community and regulatory services said:"We want everyone to be able to enjoy Hemel Hempstead town centre, without being subject to the detrimental behaviour of a small minority of people.

"This prosecution sends a clear message that breaching the town centre PSPO will not be tolerated and that enforcement action will be taken where necessary."

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.

Further information about PSPOs is available on Dacorum Borough Council's website

If you are visiting Hemel Hempstead town centre or if you are a dog owner in the borough, please ensure that you take note of the restrictions set out in the PSPOs.