Seaham councillor looking to introduce long-term order to tackle antisocial behaviour problem in town
“We're pushing hard to secure a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) for Seaham”
Durham County Council’s Seaham councillor Chris Fairs is looking to secure a long-term protection order in Seaham to increase police and council powers to deal with antisocial behaviour (ASB) following widespread disorder in the town during the May Bank Holiday Weekend.
During the disorder, police officers attended the beach and Seaham Marina and a 16-year-old boy was taken to hospital.
Speaking following the incident, a Durham Constabulary spokesperson said: “Officers attended Seaham Harbour Marina on Monday, May 25, following reports of a rowdy crowd of teenagers congregating on the beach.
“A 16-year-old boy was taken to hospital when he fell ill after allegedly consuming alcohol and being exposed to the sun.
“Officers attended and the crowd dispersed.
“To prevent further antisocial behaviour, a dispersal order was put in place in Seaham town centre, the harbour, and surrounding beaches on Friday, May 29.
“The order, which ran for 48 hours, meant that anyone who entered the areas with the intention to commit antisocial behaviour could be given a direction to leave.”
However, Cllr Fairs now wants to see a more long-term solution introduced and has been meeting with Durham Constabulary police chiefs about the introduction of a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO).
Cllr Fairs said: “Many of you will have seen the disorder over the Bank Holiday weekend which led to the police putting a 48-hour dispersal order across Seaham town centre, the Harbour and our beaches covering last weekend.
“A dispersal order is a valuable emergency tool, but it only lasts 48 hours. To deal with this properly, Seaham needs something with real staying power. That's what I've been working on this week, alongside my colleague Cllr George Anderson.
“We're pushing hard to secure a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) for Seaham.”
A PSPO is a Council order that sets standing rules for a defined area that can last up to three years and is designed to tackle issues like street or beach drinking, intimidating or abusive behaviour, and the misuse of vehicles, bikes and scooters, with fines for anyone who breaches them.
A PSPO can be enforced by both the police and Council officers.
Cllr Fairs added: “We need a long-term plan that focuses on prevention, not just reaction. Regular, visible patrols and PSPO enforcement in the area on a daily basis would help deter anti-social behaviour before it starts.
“A dispersal order is a sticking plaster for a single weekend, a PSPO is a lasting tool to keep our town centre, harbour and seafront safer all year round.
“Preventing problems is always better than curing them. Our residents deserve to feel safe every day, not just when a dispersal order is in place.”
Cllr Fairs said he has met with Council officers to understand exactly how a PSPO would work for Seaham and what it could cover. He also said Durham Constabulary are “currently working on an application”.
We have asked Durham Constabulary to provide further information on this and are awaiting their response.