Swansea community tackles anti-social behaviour with protection order

Morriston in Swansea is to become the first community in the city to be covered by a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO).

The order will give police additional powers to deal with issues such as on street drinking and the use of legal highs and disperse those causing anti-social behavior.

Swansea Council is working closely with South Wales Police to implement the measure.

The introduction of the PSPO will follow on from a recent successful prosecution against a Morriston shop owner who has been jailed for more than three years for selling legal highs to young people in the community.

The ongoing sale of the legal highs at the Rebel Rebel store led to a rise in anti-social behaviour in Morriston.

Council Leader Rob Stewart, said:  ‘I’m extremely pleased to support the implementation of the first PSPO in Morriston. The sale and use of legal highs is a real threat to young people who believe wrongly that legal means safe – it doesn’t.

“I want to commend the excellent work of the Police and Trading Standards, along with local councillors, who have really brought this issue into the spotlight and highlighted the danger of legal highs.”

Andrea Lewis, Cabinet Member for Next Generation Services, said: “The introduction of the PSPO will give residents in the community peace of mind that we are working proactively with the Police to tackle any anti-social behaviour issues that may occur in the future.”

“In terms of tackling the legal highs issue in Morriston – it would have been easy to sit back and wait for the Bill from central government to bring about a ban.  We chose to take a far more proactive approach with our Trading Standards, working in close collaboration with South Wales Police to tackle this issue affecting young people in Swansea. Legal highs are extremely dangerous and in some cases fatal.”

Police & Crime Commissioner Alun Michael said: “The way in which young people are drawn into legal highs is one of the major threats of our time. This example of partnership working between South Wales Police and Swansea Council is just what we need in terms of taking action to protect our communities and our young people.”

Chief Inspector Tony McAlinden, operational policing commander for Swansea North, added: ‘The Public Space Protection Order will give officers who patrol the area additional powers to deal with anti-social behaviour more effectively.”