Town's new anti-social behaviour rules implemented

New rules giving authorities in a seaside resort more powers to deal with anti-social behaviour have come into effect.

Great Yarmouth Borough Council said it chose to extend a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) after a survey found people wanted to "feel safer" in the Norfolk town.

The order was originally focussed on problems caused by street drinking, but the council's head of environment James Wilson said it had been extended to deal with other problems.

He said these included "urinating, defecating, swearing, intimidation… as well as dealing with e-bikes and all the problems causing people not to want to come into town".

The order – which also covers begging – gives police and council officers additional powers to issue warnings and fines, and ultimately, can lead to arrests.

It applies across the whole borough, also covering places including Gorleston, Caister-on-Sea and Hemsby.

On the first day of the new PSPO, additional police were on patrol in Great Yarmouth town centre.

Sgt Dan Smith, who has worked in the town for 24 years, insisted it was "incredibly safe", but conceded that people did not always feel it was.

He said police wanted the town to "prosper" for residents and visitors alike, with tourists vital to the area.

"People want to come to Great Yarmouth and have a great experience. I bring my children to Great Yarmouth. They love it... it's a family-friendly resort," he said.

"You can't go to Legoland or Alton Towers and drink a can of Stella as you walk around."

Officers called in to see Godwin Roshin at his convenience shop near the Market Place, to tell him about the PSPO.

He said he regularly called police about street drinkers who he had barred from his shop.

"You can't control them; you get new faces every week. It's not one or two guys," he said.

He was disappointed by the response to previous reports he had made to police, and had doubts about how much difference the new rules would make.

"I'm not sure – give me another week and I'll tell you," he said.

But in the Market Place, people did welcome the idea of more being done to deal with anti-social behaviour.

"I got harassed last week: verbally abused and threatened," said Tom Fisher, who said he had been confronted by a man who was begging.

"He was effing and blinding and I just ignored it. There should be police here all the time."

Mary Collins, who was shopping with her son, said: "In the school holidays, you get the holidaymakers, and it's not very nice to see someone peeing up a wall."

And Tia Smith said she "100%" agreed with the order coming into effect.

"To be fair, if it was me, I'd prefer just walking down the street not seeing people drinking," she said.

"The way I see it, if you want to drink – just drink in a pub or at home."

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