Eureka Park Protection Order in place

Following a period of public consultation, South Derbyshire District Council has introduced a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) in Eureka Park in Swadlincote. The order began on Saturday, 14 October 2023 and will be in force for three years.

This order allows designated council and police officers to take swifter action against those engaging in anti-social behaviour activities, by issuing advice, fines, and formal prosecutions as appropriate. The public consultation found that 97.5 % of respondents were in favour of introducing the order.

Leader of South Derbyshire District Council, Councillor Robert Pearson said: "We are pleased to be introducing a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) for Eureka Park. This PSPO is part of a range of measures underlining the council's commitment to making community safety a priority. It is designed to help keep the park safer for regular users and those visiting for the first time.“

PSPOs are intended to deal with a nuisance or problem in an area that is detrimental to the local community’s qualify of life and a breach of one is a criminal offence and subject to a fixed penalty notice.

Under the order the following specified things are prohibited in the restricted area:

•             No person shall consume alcohol.

•             No person shall have unsealed vessels containing alcohol in their possession.

•             No person shall loiter as an individual or in a group if they are causing or likely to cause anti-social behaviour (ASB). If asked to disperse on instruction of a Police Officer, Police Community Support Officer or authorised officer (from South Derbyshire District Council) individuals must not return to the area for a period of 24 hours.

•             No person shall use a skateboard, scooter, pedal cycle, includes those power assisted, or any mechanically propelled vehicle in such a manner as to cause damage to property or that causes or is likely to cause intimidation, harassment, alarm, distress, nuisance, or annoyance to any person.

A PSPO will not restrict the consumption of alcohol where the premises or its curtilage is licensed for the supply of alcohol. The existing PSPO for Eureka park, which had just one prohibition restricting alcohol consumption has been revoked.

16 October 2023