Purpose

Proposal to introduce a new Public Spaces
Protection Order (PSPO) to restrict anti-social and criminal
behaviours within council-owned multi-storey car parks within
Crawley following public consultation.

Content

RESOLVED

That Cabinet approves that the level for Fixed Penalty Notices
which may be issued for a breach of the PSPO (subject to that Full
Council makes the PSPO in the form of the draft at Appendix A
of report
HCS/072) be set at £100.

That Full Council be recommended to makes a PSPO in the form set
out in Appendix A report
HCS/072 with the restricted area being
Orchard Street multi-storey car park, Town Hall multi-storey car
park and Kingsgate multi-storey car park which should come into
force on 26 February 2024 for a period of three years

Reasons for the Recommendations

There have been complaints about anti-social behaviour the
Council’s town centre multistorey car parks. The anti-social
behaviour is mainly caused by congregating/sleeping in
access areas such as stairwells and lift lobbies, drug taking
and access for the purpose of criminal activity.

As
a publicly accessible space there are limited powers to prevent
individuals accessing the car parks for non-parking related
activities.

The
anti-social behaviour can be managed by introducing a Public Spaces
Protection Order restricting activity that is not connected to the
parking of a vehicle or bicycle, without preventing the lawful use
of the car park for all members of the public.