Anti-social behaviour crackdown wins full backing

Measures are to be introduced to crack down on persistent anti-social behaviour in Felixstowe, including vandalism and littering.

At an East Suffolk Council cabinet meeting on Tuesday, it was agreed unanimously to introduce a public spaces protection order (PSPO) along the town's coastline from 13 December.

Landguard and View Point car parks were singled out as being places where people gathered to drive dangerously, race and rev car engines.

Jan Candy, the council's Liberal Democrat cabinet member for community, said: "For many years, Felixstowe residents have experienced persistent issues with anti-social and dangerous driving, and excessive noise, in several of the town's car parks."

The PSPO gives police and council officers additional powers to issue warnings and fines, and there can be arrests. It will be in place for three years.

Seamus Bennett, Liberal Democrat member for Eastern Felixstowe on the council, said: "People are being kept up at night, and it's really affecting their health and their mental wellbeing.

"If this has the desired effect, people will sleep easier and the whole town will benefit."

The Local Democracy Reporting Service said data from Port of Felixstowe Police showed they had responded 139 times to anti-social behaviour since 2022.

Insp Colin Clack said: "It gives us another layer to enforce, another tool in our toolbox.

"We always look to educate first before we go down the punitive action road – many of these people are not criminals. They're sometimes unaware of the nuisance they're causing."

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