To decide whether to approve for public consultation purposes the proposed extension of the Public Space Protection Order in Clacton Town Centre into surrounding areas, together with the addition of three new conditions.

(1)    To approve, in principle, the proposed extension of the Public Space Protection Order in Clacton Town Centre into surrounding areas together with the addition of three new conditions; and

(2)    To approve that this proposed extension of the PSPO go out to public consultation for a period lasting from 11^th December 2023 to 19^th January 2024.

There has been a Clacton Town Centre, Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) in place since 2007. This enables Essex Police and Tendring’s Community Safety team to, inter alia, remove alcohol from street drinkers, disperse groups and tackle Anti-Social Behaviour.

Having considered the Officer report and in line with the Community Safety Partnership priority to Tackle Anti-Social Behaviour it has been decided to consider the extension of the Clacton Town Centre PSPO  into the surrounding areas.

The aim is to improve areas in Clacton that have been subjected to Anti-Social behaviour where street drinkers and youths congregate and where criminal activity takes place. Essex Police rely on the PSPO to respond to Anti-Social Behaviour in the Town Centre.

To not support this work would be out of line with the Council’s and Community Safety Partnership’s current priorities. Essex Police have confirmed that they use the PSPO on a daily basis in Clacton town centre. It ensures enforcement activities can take place, alongside crime prevention. The PSPO provides a tool to ensure the swift resolution of Anti-Social Behaviour. If the extension of the area covered by the PSPO was not agreed it could also negatively impact on tourism with reduced powers to tackle street drinking and increased ASB in the wider proposed area.