PSPO Welwyn Garden City Consultation

Welwyn Garden City town centre is experiencing anti-social behaviour (ASB) associated with:

• begging, aggressive begging and associated ASB
• ASB in public places caused by consumption of alcohol
• ASB associated with rough sleeping and non-engagement with support services
• urination and defecation in public

These anti-social behaviours have been persistent and continuing for some time.

Despite a number of interventions and support to address these behaviours it has continued:

• Police records show there has been a 25% increase in nuisance Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) in the last year.* This includes begging and rough sleeping .
• Street Link figures show a 72% increase in reports of begging and rough sleeping in the last year.
• There have also been ongoing reports of street drinking in the area to the police and ASB team.
• There have been historic and more recent issues with youths street drinking within the proposed PSPO area.
• The current homeless population are regularly seen with alcohol. This has led to alcohol related ASB, such as violence and public urination/defecation.

How we are supporting rough sleepers

We are committed to eliminating rough sleeping in the district and have allocated significant resources to acheive this.

Individuals reported as rough sleeping, have been approached multiple times and offered assistance. On most occasions this has been declined and the individuals have refused to engage with any support services.

We are keen to ensure that vulnerable people are safeguarded and they receive appropriate support.

If a decision is taken in to implement a PSPO, any vulnerable person with complex needs found in breach of this, will be offered support and advice in the first instance.

*When comparing the period August 2021 to August 2022 with August 2022 to August 2023.