Council wants new team to tackle town nuisances

Plans for a team of new public space officers to patrol Loughborough to tackle anti-social behaviour are set to given the go-ahead.

Charnwood Borough Council's cabinet has been advised by the authority's community safety team to approve proposals on 12 November to create a new public spaces officer patrol in the town.

According to the Labour-run council the service would cost about £250,000 a year, and would comprise of four full-time public space officers plus a part-time business support role.

It comes as the council carries out a final consultation on proposals to introduce a new public spaces protection order (PSPO), which includes a ban on wearing face coverings.

The council said the proposed new patrols would help enforce new powers being proposed in the PSPO.

As well as the balaclava ban, the proposed extension of the PSPO would also ban riding bicycles, e-bikes or e-scooters in a manner that is "dangerous, careless or inconsiderate".

The proposed PSPO would also prohibit loitering in any public place either alone or as part of a group in a manner that is "causing, or is likely to cause, nuisance, harassment, alarm or distress to others".

Alongside this it would target urinating or defecating in streets, parks, car parks, open spaces, or any other publicly accessible outdoor location.

Failing to comply with the PSPO would result in a fixed penalty notice of £100, reduced to £50 if paid within a certain time.

Officers would patrol in pairs, with the council anticipating the officers could be introduced in April 2027.

A final consultation is being held on the new PSPO, with its introduction set for next year, the council said.

Liz Blackshaw, the council's lead member for communities and neighbourhoods, said: "We know anti-social behaviour can affect how residents, visitors and workers feel when they spend time in our town centre.

"These proposals would introduce a visible presence to help deter anti-social behaviour, support businesses and provide reassurance for people using the town centre.

"This would be a significant investment by the council, but it is an investment in the future of our town centre.

"A welcoming, safe environment benefits businesses, encourages people to visit and supports the local economy."

The move comes after Leicester City Council recruited six officers in June to reinforce its existing team of street wardens in an effort to make the city centre feel safer.

They have the power to issue £100 penalty notices for offences such as dangerous riding of e-bikes and scooters, street drinking and aggressive begging, which became offences under a public spaces protection order (PSPO) established in 2025.

The officers, equipped with stab vests and body-worn CCTV cameras, are patrolling the city centre 12 hours a day, six days a week, the council said.

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