A North East council is set to consult on measures to tackle anti-social behaviour in town centres.
Durham County Council is considering introducing Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) in town centres, including some bus stations, across County Durham.
Next week, Cabinet will be asked to agree to a full consultation exercise which will gather public opinion on introducing PSPOs in Bishop Auckland, Chester-le-Street, Consett, Durham City, Peterlee, Seaham and Stanley.
The PSPOs would aim to address anti-social behaviour including loitering; littering and graffiti; foul or abusive language; intimidating behaviour; alcohol or substance misuse; urinating in public places; and nuisance electric bikes and scooters.
Cabinet will hear that introducing PSPOs will allow the council and Durham Constabulary to take more immediate enforcement action through Fixed Penalty Notices and give more powers to council officers, neighbourhood wardens and the police.
Cllr Kyle Genner, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for neighbourhoods, environment, and police relations, said: “Anti-social behaviour and low-level crime affect us all, and people across our county rightly want the places they live and work to be clean, tidy and free from trouble. We agree with them wholeheartedly, and that’s why we take tackling those concerns so seriously.
“PSPOs can be an effective way to deal with these issues, and we’ve worked closely with Durham Constabulary to identify where introducing a PSPO would be beneficial.
“The measures bring proposed would give our officers and the police more powers to robustly deal with those doing wrong. It would mean stronger, more immediate enforcement action against those who are causing disruption within communities.
“We want the message to be clear that if you’re causing trouble and doing damage to neighbourhoods in the county, the consequences will be hard.
“Before rolling out any new PSPOs we’re putting this proposal out for the public to share their views. Please let us know what you think and help us make our county the best place to live and work it can possibly be.”
Cabinet will hear that proposals also include measures against wearing face coverings, such as a balaclava, to conceal a person’s identity while committing anti-social behaviour.
This measure would be implemented county-wide and would require face coverings to be removed when requested by authorised officers.
It would not apply to coverings worn for religious, cultural and medical reasons.
Councillors will be asked to agree to a consultation exercise when it meets on Wednesday 14 October.
If agreed, a consultation will launch at the end of October and run for six weeks.
