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Under the Act, the Council can:
- set blanket restrictions and requirements.
- set targeted restrictions and requirements against certain behaviours by certain groups at certain times.
- restrict access to public spaces (including certain types of highway) where that route is being used to commit anti-social behaviour.
PSPOs can be enforced by a Police Officer, a Police Community Support Officer, or Council Officers.
- Behaviour being restricted has to be:
- having, or be likely to have, a detrimental effect on the quality of life of those in the locality.
- persistent or continuing in nature; and
- unreasonable,
thereby justifying the PSPO.
- Any person who without reasonable excuse:
- does anything that they are prohibited from doing by a PSPO; or
- fails to comply with a requirement to which the person is subject under a PSPO, will commit an offence and could be liable to; prosecution and a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale (currently £1,000); or being issued with a fixed penalty notice not exceeding £100.
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The following concerns have been raised by Lancashire Constabulary in connection with the car cruises at Pimbo Industrial Estate: -
- People attend the event at Pimbo from across the North West, often with over 300 vehicles in attendance at once. Many of the vehicles are high performance or modified cars with loud exhausts. Weekend evenings have been popular for this event, with high numbers of vehicles arriving at once. The noise this causes and impact on the local community is significant – not only for residents of the Pimbo area, but also other locations across West Lancashire as the convoy of vehicles make their way to Pimbo.
- Following each car meet, numerous complaints are received by the Police and local MP due to the noise and behaviour of those attending. Complaints are not just limited to those residing in Pimbo, but also in residential areas in Burscough due to vehicles driving in convoy and racing on roads en-route to Pimbo. The Pimbo Car Meet has now gained a reputation amongst like car enthusiasts as one of the biggest and favoured North West ‘Max Power’ events, and recently has even started to gain the attention of mobile burger vans and caterers who also attend the area for business.
- The scale of these unauthorised and dangerous events is significant. The hostility and disregard shown to the Police is concerning and has escalated. The impact on the community cannot be ignored and is having a damaging effect on people's quality of life. As people leave the area or are dispersed, Police resources are being diverted from across the County into the area. The disregard for the area is again apparent by the amount of litter left behind.
- Importantly there are also serious and obvious concerns regarding the safety of those who attend, and to members of the local community who may be in the area at the time. At each car meet there have been races involving high performance vehicles and drag racing whilst the road is lined with pedestrian spectators. People have been seen to stand in the middle of the road starting these races and standing at the finishing line.
- In August 2021 in Lincoln, vehicles racing at a very similar car meet crashed into spectators who had lined the road to watch, causing one person to be fatally injured and 3 seriously injured. The videos posted online from this event had frightening similarities to the car meets at Pimbo. The PSPO seeks to prevent a similar incident in West Lancashire.
- Once the vehicles arrive, the behaviour of the majority is unacceptable and there is significant anti-social behaviour and nuisance caused by the manner of driving, races, 'burn outs' and associated noise.
