Decisions made on dog control and street drinking orders

An alcohol PSPO (public space protection order) and another targeting dog control were due to expire this year.

But both are being extended by Worcester City Council following a public consultation.

A separate city centre PSPO banning dangerous cycling, the feeding of gulls and aggressive begging is being scrapped.

Members of the council’s communities committee heard that police have used the alcohol PSPO to reduce and pre-empt anti-social behaviour.

The order gives officers the power to take drinks off people if there is a suspicion that the drinking could lead to anti-social behaviour.

Without it, the police can only confiscate alcohol from those under 18s and from adults buying alcohol for under 18s, or if they arrest someone.

Warwick Neale, Worcester City Council’s community engagement manager, told Wednesday’s meeting: “The alcohol PSPO helps the police de-escalate situations.”

A consultation carried out by the city council found members of the public were unsure of the impact of the PSPO and unaware of how often it is enforced.

But a majority of people still wanted the order to continue and even be extended to include the Riverside Park.

Councillors voted to keep the alcohol order for another three years and to include both Riverside Park and Pitchcroft, where there is evidence of alcohol-related anti-social behaviour taking place.

The dog control order has also been extended for three years.

This requires dog owners to pick up and dispose of their dog’s poo and to walk no more than four dogs at a time.

The council is also planning to run a consultation on a requirement to keep dogs on short leads in certain parks and greenspaces.

Cllr Hannah Cooper said enforcement officers should be able to ask dog walkers if they have poo bags, rather than waiting to see if they fail to pick up after their dog.

Cllr Alan Amos said a passageway in his ward is so bad it is known as “dog poo alley”, adding: “It’s an absolute disgrace.”