Anti-social behaviour in the West Dorset area
The Anti-social behaviour team deals with complaints of anti social behaviour ranging from neighbour disputes, through to drug dealing.
We work alongside a range of services including housing associations, drug and alcohol outreach services and youth offending services. Our officers have a range of enforcement powers to deal with offenders of ASB, as well as providing a supporting role for victims of anti-social behaviour.
Public Space Protection Orders (PSPO’s)
PSPOs were introduced in October 2014 by the Antisocial Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 . They are designed to deal with a particular nuisance or problem in a particular area (a public space) that is detrimental to the local community's quality of life, by imposing conditions on the use of that area which apply to everyone.
A PSPO can cover multiple restrictions, so one order can prohibit several activities such as the drinking of alcohol and dog fouling. Enforcement will be undertaken by council officers, with the support of police officers.
If anyone breaches the requirements of the PSPO, or fails to comply with a request from an Authorised Council Officer or Police Officer to cease activity, they would be committing a criminal offence and could be issued a Fixed Penalty Notice of £75 or be prosecuted.
New rules have been drawn up for public spaces in West Dorset after listening to your views.
The rules on consuming alcohol in public remain largely the same, but the ban on feeding gulls is new. The new West Dorset Anti-Social Behaviour Related Public Space Protection Order 2018 will come into force on 23 April 2018. The maps which accompany it are available here along with a schedule listing the areas referred to in each one.
Schedule 1 PSPO Dorchester Alcohol
Schedule 2 Bridport PSPO Alcohol
Schedule 3 West Bay PSPO Alcohol
Schedule 4 West Bay PSPO Gulls
Schedule 5 Lyme Regis PSPO Gulls
Notice of extension
Dorset Council has extended the West Dorset Public Spaces Protection Order by a period of 12 months. See the notice of extension.
Be Me Therapy
In conjunction with Melin Homes, we are offering a unique programme of change to support victims of anti-social behaviour as well as assisting perpetrators to change their patterns of behaviour. Victims and perpetrators involved in the scheme will be offered Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) as a means of addressing negative behaviour patterns and building effective coping mechanisms. This service is a positive move towards community cohesion, not simply moving the problems elsewhere but dealing with the root causes and changing people’s perception and behaviour, making a positive impact on their futures. For more information please contact us.