Bike-riding balaclava gangs set to be banned from Nuneaton and Bedworth town centres

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The council and police want to bring a new Police Space Protection Order (PSCO) to cover certain areas of the town centres



Bike-riding balaclava gangs are set to be banned from Nuneaton and Bedworth town centres. Both local police and the council have admitted that public confidence surrounding safety in both town centres is at an near all-time low.

It follows a spate of incidents, including the tragic murder of Tom Ellis, who was stabbed in the chest in Queens Road back in June. Now, in a bid to take action against those committing anti-social behaviour, the two authorities have joined forces to come up with a new Public Space Protection Order (PSPO).

Under the proposed PSPO, there are three main areas set to be tackled - gangs causing trouble, those on bikes skateboards and scooters riding through the town centres causing trouble, as well as a ban on those intent to cause distress or trouble wearing balaclavas, scarves and face masks.

The face covering ban would not include those who wear face coverings for religious or cultural beliefs. Also, the request not to ride a bike, scooter or skateboard through the town centres would also not apply to genuine, law-abiding locals.

Those who refuse to comply with the proposed PSPO could face a fine. It could also lead to arrest.

But before the PSPO can be put into place, both the council and the police need to ask residents their views. A public consultation is now underway and will run until October 7.

Councillor Nicola King, cabinet member for older business and regeneration at the Town Hall, said: "The Nuneaton and Bedworth Community Safety Partnership has recognised that change is needed, and we have been working with Warwickshire Police to ensure that our towns are safe, desirable and brought back to the thriving place they used to be."

Inspector Ryan Walker from the Safer Neighbourhood Team, Nuneaton and Bedworth added: "Over the past year, the public’s confidence to use our town centres for everyday business has decreased. In my opinion this is due to the congregation of groups taking part in anti-social behaviour, such as anti-social cycling and intentional covering of faces to cause wider distress to our communities.

“Our aim is to work in collaboration to restore the confidence the public deserve, making our town centres the foundations of our communities. The PSPO will be fundamental, allowing for wider enforcement, targeting those people who are causing the community unnecessary problems.

"The police and the local authority will be looking to enforce this PSPO robustly, making sure there is continuous engagement with the individuals involved to negate wider concerns or future occurrences."

This would not be the first council PSPO. There are others in place, including a ban on vehicles being exposed for sale on ‘A’ and ‘B’ category roads, as well as some 'C' and 'D' roads across the two towns.

[dutchman]

The face covering ban would not include those who wear face coverings for religious or cultural beliefs. Also, the request not to ride a bike, scooter or skateboard through the town centres would also not apply to genuine, law-abiding locals.

That's a complete nonsense. Something is either legal or illegal, it can't be legal for some people and not for others!

[dutchman]

Nuneaton and Bedworth town centres 'nuisance' ban agreed as urgent message issued to cyclists



A new 'nuisance' ban in Nuneaton and Bedworth town centres has been agreed. The new Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) -- which bans three types of behaviour - had already been backed by the majority of locals.

Its aim is to reduce anti-social behaviour and one of the three prohibitions is against those nuisance cyclists, skateboarders and scooter riders. Those caught 'riding in a malicious and/or dangerous manner as to cause harassment, alarm or distress to any person' in the town centres can now be asked to dismount and walk.

Cabinet members at the Town Hall were asked to approve the PSPO and, in doing so, councillor Tim Jenkins, cabinet member for leisure, communities and health, issued a plea to law-abiding cyclists. It follows comments made by resident Keith Kondakor following a radio report on the ban.

Mr Kondakor said a local radio station had said that the ban applied to all cyclists who ride through the town centre. He implored Cllr Jenkins: "The headline was that cyclists will be arrested if they go into the town centres - that is an outrageous headline and it is an absolute disaster for our town centres.

"Responsible cyclists should be told that they will not be arrested for going into Nuneaton and Bedworth town centres. We need to make sure that we get the messaging right about this PSPO.

Cllr Jenkins responded, saying: "It is an issue, there is a small number of people that are cycling irresponsibly through the town centres.

"But we will not be arresting any cyclist willy-nilly, it is just a small number of persistent individuals who are carrying out anti-social behaviour and irresponsible cycling."

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Young trouble-makers face Nuneaton town centre ban as police make 'mum' threat



Police say a number of young people behind trouble in Nuneaton town centre face being banned. They say that the quartet, who have not been identified, were 'causing problems for people' in the town centre.

Now, as a result, the quartet will be receiving formal warnings about their behaviour. If they are caught causing trouble again, this could lead to tougher action.

Among this is a court injunction that could ban them from the town centre. The Nuneaton and Bedworth police teams said that they will continue to take action against those who cause misery with anti-social behaviour.

In post on Facebook to explain the latest action, they issued a warning to other young people looking to cause trouble. "We've already identified four young people who were causing problems for people in the town centre, we have their details, and they will be receiving formal warnings which could lead to a court injunction.

"Just remember - we're not above calling your mum."