Crackdown on ASB and drug use in Plymouth car parks

News rules coming into place

A crackdown on rising problems of anti social behaviour in Plymouth’s car parks is set to be agreed by the city council’s cabinet on Monday.

A three year public spaces protection order (PSPO) is expected to be brought in to cover nine car parks in the city in order to curb alcohol and drug use, intimidation and public disturbance caused by motorbikes racing and the misuse of stairwells as toilets.

Plymouth City Council said some of the city’s car parks were leaving people feeling unsafe particularly women.

Under the new order police officers will have powers to move on individuals causing a nuisance and address serial perpetrators of ASB in the following car parks – Napier Street, Regent Street, Mayflower East, Theatre Royal, Western Approach, Colin Campbell, Mount Batten Pier and Castle car parks and Jennycliff. 

The move follows a consultation where 94 per cent of the 372 responses from members of the public thought the prohibitions proposed were fair. Thirty two per cent of people said they felt “very unsafe” using the car parks and 63 per cent “strongly agreed” that ASB was an issue.

Comments included: “As a woman alone, I loathe it when I see people loitering, drinking, shouting anywhere – but in an enclosed space it’s even more frightening.” 

“Car parks are dark, full of poo and urine, and there are discarded drug needles.” 

“A lot of homeless people sleeping/using it as a bathroom. Big groups of teenagers/young adults using it as a social meet up. Both block stairways and you end up walking down the car ramps as they don’t move.” 

The police and crime commissioner, Devon and Cornwall Police, The Zone, City Centre Company, Plymouth Access to Housing (PATH) and Shekinah were among those who responded to a consultation for partner agencies with 88 per cent in support and 76 per cent saying the frequency or severity of anti-social behaviour within the car parks had worsened over the last 12 months.

However, views from 22 young people were mixed, with some understanding why the change was being made, but others expressing concern around the potential impact on them.

One young motorcyclist it was “a safe space to do our stunts away from the public” and another said “This isn’t fair on us, we want to be able to hang with our mates in a safe place away from the public.”

Plymouth City Council had intended to cover six car parks with the PSPO but this has now been increased to nine because of repeated reports of ASB incidents in Jennycliff and Mount Batten car parks.

The PSPO is designed to make sure people do not occupy, loiter or congregate with other people for any reason other than to park a car, motorbike or moped.

If agreed on Monday, the new order is expected to come into force in the next few months.