Overview
- Breckland Council introduced a Public Spaces Protection Order for Dereham town centre in March and made it enforceable on May 12 to curb street drinking, nuisance behaviour and cycling in restricted areas.
- A council six-month review carried out in September with 65 respondents found more people said problems had worsened than improved and almost half of respondents felt unsafe in the town centre in the evening.
- Official enforcement recorded to date has been modest with wardens confiscating four open alcohol containers, police logging one breach, seven warning letters issued and around five hours of weekly dedicated warden patrols in the zone.
- Local anger focuses on the NR19 Hotel, used for emergency housing, which residents say has concentrated visible street activity and fuelled fears about intimidation, drinking and drug use near the Market Place.
- Sunderland City Council is running a separate public consultation on renewing its PSPO until November 15 and is inviting views on whether current measures remain effective with breaches subject to a £100 fixed penalty notice.