Retail park set for anti-social behaviour crackdown

New measures to tackle violence and anti-social behaviour at a Wolverhampton retail park are to be put in place.

The city council approved a three-year Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) at Bentley Bridge Retail and Leisure Park following a public consultation. It comes into effect on 25 March.

The move gives police powers to ask groups of three or more to leave the area if there is reason to believe they are causing a nuisance, and to remove face coverings if they have no reasonable grounds to wear them.

Councillor Obaida Ahmed said: "Bentley Bridge is an incredibly popular retail and leisure venue and we want to ensure it remains a welcoming and safe place for everyone to visit."

The plans, given the green light at a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, were initially put forward to tackle a steady increase in anti-social behaviour – largely involving groups of youths – in and around the retail park in recent years, the council has said.

The local authority also stressed the PSPO would not affect groups of shoppers or those who gather to visit and would not discriminate against those people legitimately wearing a face covering, for medical reasons or religious purposes.

Ahmed added: "We've seen the positive impact that a similar PSPO introduced in Wolverhampton city centre in 2024 has had, contributing to a 16% reduction in recorded crime, including a 50% fall in robberies, and we look forward to seeing this new PSPO delivering a similar outcome at Bentley Bridge."

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