Too many residents have been put off visiting York city centre by rowdy behaviour.
But new powers to curb the misbehaviour are designed to bring local people back, says the council’s public protection lead.
And these powers could even see police sending stag and hen parties back to their hotels.
Council public protection executive member Cllr Michael Pavlovic said a rise in people, including tourists, behaving aggressively and violently was upsetting residents.
The executive member pointed to an altercation in Low Ousegate in July which four people were arrested in connection with as an example of behaviour that was causing concern.
He was speaking after the launch of a consultation on expanding the scope of two public space protection orders covering the city centre, The Groves, Union Terrace and Clarence Street Gardens.
These would give police new powers to
- impose drinking bans in places where it is fuelling antisocial behaviour
- move people on for antisocial behaviour
- banish troublemaking groups of three or more from the areas listed above
- tackle people causing nuisance, annoyance, alarm, distress or harassment by begging or loitering including in places such as bank or shop doorways
- prevent street drinking and loitering in the Union Terrace Car Park.
Cllr Pavlovic said: “There has been a growth in antisocial behaviour including violence and aggression in recent years, it’s not unprecedented but we don’t want it.
“These powers aren’t just about people who are street drinking or begging aggresively.
“They could be used in relation to hen or stag parties. We don’t want to stop people from having fun but when that moves into being aggressive and rowdy then the police would have the power to send people back to their hotels.
“There’s a growing sense that the city centre isn’t for everyone and that it’s only for tourists, we want to bring residents back in and we want them to bring their kids in without worrying that their kids will see things that will scare them.
“We don’t want to see anyone begging in York and we want to engage with beggars and rough sleepers through drug or alcohol services or provide them with accommodation if they need and want it.
“But we know there’s people who come to York to beg because they see it as a soft touch and a lucrative place to be, if you move someone on from outside the city centre to somewhere with less footfall they’re not going to stay.
“We as councillors and the police have also had reports about people being accosted quite aggressively if they refuse to give to beggars.”
The proposals have prompted criticism from York Green Party Chair Denise Craghill claiming the sweeping powers could be used to drive homeless people out of the city centre.
Ms Craghill told a council meeting earlier in September the powers appeared vague, open to interpretation and those relating to begging and loitering had potentially serious human rights implications.
In response, Cllr Pavlovic said: “These powers previously existed but if the police wanted to move someone on they needed authorisation from an inspector, this just streamlines the process.
“The police are professionals and they will be implementing this and they can determine when it’ll be appropriate to use these powers.
“No one’s going to be forcibly removed or kicked out of York, they could be moved on to another part of the city centre or back to where they live.
“We will do everything possible to make York’s streets safe, we’ve got a range of options and we want people to have their say on what they’d want us to.”
- People can find out more about the proposals and take part in the council’s consultation on them here
