New public order in Swansea to target dangerous use of e-bikes and scooters

A public order aimed at tackling anti-social behaviour in Swansea city centre is to be replaced with a new one which targets dangerous use of e-bikes, push bikes, and scooters and covers a much bigger area.
The current public space protection order, as it’s known, was introduced by the council in December 2021 and reaffirmed three years later. It’s designed to tackle anti-social behaviour such as street drinking, drug-related activity, public disorder, begging, and urinating and defecating in public.
The order covers the city centre, Parc Tawe, and the High Street railway station.
Cabinet members agreed to implement a new order, which incorporates Swansea Marina and the beachfront to the south and Dyfatty to the north, at a meeting on September 16.
It follows a two-year review and feedback from the public and other groups which identified issues such as dangerous use of e-bikes, push bikes, and scooters. The new order will also have stronger dispersal powers.
Introducing the proposal council leader Rob Stewart said: “I think it strikes the right balance between a lawful and welcoming city centre and also ensures people’s rights are not overridden.”
During the two-year review officers who implemented the current order carried out more than 1,100 anti-social behaviour “interventions” with more than 230 resulting in further police action and 80-plus referrals to support and safeguarding services.
Of the 108 responses to a public consultation last summer 94% supported extending dispersal powers to authorised officers and 97% backed a new condition about dangerous riding of bicycles, e-bikes, and scooters.
“The consultation also identified widespread concerns relating to anti-social behaviour, public safety, and the impact such behaviours have on residents, visitors, businesses, and city centre workers,” said the cabinet report.
The responses also raised concerns about the potential impact of enforcement measures on vulnerable individuals and the new order takes account of this.
“Whilst the revised conditions provide stronger powers to address persistent anti-social behaviour, the council’s operational approach will continue to prioritise support and safeguarding where appropriate,” said the report.
“Enforcement action will remain proportionate and informed by the circumstances of each case, the individual’s engagement with support
services, and any identified vulnerability factors.”
Legal advice confirmed conditions may apply to people of all ages within the order area but the council proposes that any enforcement activity involving children and young people will continue to be done “in a proportionate and safeguarding-led manner”.
The three-year order strengthens the wording of the current one and introduces clearer enforcement thresholds. Rough sleeping, though, remains outside its scope.
City centre rangers employed by the council will continue to implement the order in the city centre but they don’t patrol the beachfront and Dyfatty according to the report so backing will be needed from other council staff and South Wales Police.
Deputy council leader Andrea Harrington said she welcomed the Dyfatty extension of the boundary where regeneration projects are in development and said the council was working very closely with police. “And I know there has been some great strides in reducing anti-social behaviour , tackling organised crime, and dealing with criminals,” she said.
A cross-party scrutiny committee considered the proposal the day before the cabinet meeting and wrote to the relevant cabinet member saying it was satisfied there was a clear evidence base for the extended order.
It had concerns though that anti-social behaviour and associated issues could potentially be displaced into neighbouring areas and asked that this be monitored. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

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By BBC LDRS ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​