Another council to tackle legal highs via public space protection order

Taunton Deane Borough Council will next month follow the lead of City of Lincoln Council and introduce a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) banning the use of legal highs in public.

The local authority launched a consultation in April on the order, which it said would also “effectively outlaw the use of ‘intoxicating substances’ alcohol”.

Taunton Deane described the response to the proposal as “overwhelmingly positive”. The plans have already received the support of the council's Community Scrutiny Committee.

Signs advertising the order will start to go up soon and enforcement by police is due to start on 1 June 2015.

The PSPO will replace a ‘no Drinking’ order that applies to certain areas of Taunton and be far broader, covering the town centre and areas around Priorswood Road, through to Toneway and Blackbrook Way.

“The move has been made possible thanks to changes in legislation [the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014] that allows local councils to place an order where persistent activities are having a detrimental effect on the quality of life for people in the community,” the council said.

The Taunton order will contain the following prohibition: "Person(s) within this area will not ingest, inhale, inject, smoke or otherwise use intoxicating substances.

"Intoxicating substances is given the following definition (which includes alcohol and what are commonly referred to as 'legal highs'): Substances with the capacity to stimulate or depress the central nervous system."

The restrictions on alcohol will not apply to pavement cafes or to licensed premises.

The council said anyone in breach of the order would be committing a criminal offence and could receive a fixed penalty notice or face a fine in court.

Police and council enforcement officers would have the power to demand the surrender of the intoxicating substances, it added.

Cllr John Williams, Leader of Taunton Deane Borough Council, said: "This Protection Order has to be welcomed, through great partnership working with the Police we are able to offer protection for the majority against the most unwelcome and undesirable activities of the minority.

"Our streets, parks and open spaces should be much cleaner and safer as a result of this order and it allows a clear message to be given that unacceptable, antisocial behaviour in Taunton will not be tolerated.

"It is great that we have received the overwhelming support of our community to implement this."