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RESOLVED: that
Cabinet:
a)   
Authorised the Executive Director Place and Economy
to make a PSPO to restrict public access to the walkway known as
Emporium Way in accordance with the results of the consultation as
detailed in Appendix 3 and to carry out any outstanding legal
requirements prior to it coming into force.
b)   
Approved that the PSPO is brought into force once
the gates and hoardings restricting access to Emporium Way have
been installed, which cannot be arranged until the decision whether
to make the Order has been made.
 
REASONS RESOLVED:
A decision to approve the
proposal will support the priorities of the Community Safety
Partnership. The recommendation is the preferred option of both
partners and majority of members of the public responding to the
consultation.
 
ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS:
Crime Data provided by
Northants Police shows 20 recorded crimes from September 2021 to
August 2023, increasing from 4 crimes between Sept. 2021 –
Aug 2022 to 16 crimes in the same period the following
year.
 
In addition, during the same
two-year period 19 incidents were also recorded. Again, there has
been an increase from 6 incidents between Sept 2021 – Aug
2022 to 13 incidents for the same period.
 
Northants Police Solar Team
have reported 3 recent serious sexual offences in the alleyway; one
guilty plea for an offence taking place in 2021 and two crimes
currently under investigation from 2022 and 2023.
 
Issues witnessed by CCTV
operators on a regular basis include; groups of young people
causing criminal damage and Anti-Social behaviour, people buying,
selling and using drugs and as a cut through for shoplifters,
street drinkers and addicts to go from the town over to Oasis House
and the Mounts area. In addition, the area is regularly used as a
toilet, attracts vermin has been the location of numerous
assaults