Operation Town Centres

We want to achieve high-quality, welcoming, and vibrant town centres where all communities can feel safe and where businesses can thrive.

Operation Town Centres will ensure all Torbay towns are safe and welcoming. Our investment will provide additional enforcement officers and support and welfare staff to address the root cause behind anti-social behaviour.

This will be through collaboration between our staff and the police and using other tools to support this work (read more about this below).

The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) has also pledged to make safety in town centres a priority as part of its Street Focus – Torquay project and we’re working closely with them on this.

What powers can be used to tackle anti-social behaviour?

Public Space Protection Orders

• Dispersal Notice (DN): Under the Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) we can request people leave Torquay town centre for up to 24 hours. This is based on their behaviour being deemed unacceptable. If someone does not comply, they may receive a fine, or other consequences. 
• Removal of alcohol: Also, under the PSPO we can direct an individual to give up their alcohol. This is in place across the town centres of Torquay, Paignton and Brixham. If someone does not comply with the request, they may receive a fine, or other consequences.

Community Protection Warning (CPW): This is a written warning which must be issued before a Community Protection Notice. It is a request to stop doing something.

Community Protection Notice (CPN): This is a formal notice that addresses ongoing problems of nuisance which are having a negative effect on a community’s quality of life. The notice will direct an individual, organisation or business to stop behaving in certain ways, or to take certain action to resolve an issue. Breach of a CPN is a criminal offence and can be prosecuted in court.

Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO): CBO’s can only be issued following a conviction for a criminal offence in court. A CBO is an order made by the court that can last indefinitely and restricts someone from behaving in certain ways or being in a certain area. They usually last for around three years. Breach of a CBO can result in a prison sentence of up to five years. 

May highlights

• Thanks to the regular presence of our Town Centre Officers, there have been 46 directions to surrender alcohol in Torquay and 5 in Paignton.
• Further enforcement has occurred in 3 cases.
• There have been 5 Dispersal Notices served for behaviour-related issues.
• Further enforcement has occurred in 3 cases.
• Town Centre Officers and partners monitored 12 individuals in Torquay and 4 in Paignton for behaviour including prolific shoplifting, drug use and predatory, aggressive and threatening behaviour.
• 9 individuals experiencing homelessness were housed in either private rented accommodation or at the Leonard Stocks Centre.
• 66 businesses in Torquay and 55 in Paignton have taken up the offer of portable radios. This is to improve communication between traders and address shoplifting and ASB. The radio system is linked directly into the CCTV control room and the police.
• 61 Torquay businesses have joined Night Net, a radio system operating in the evening and night-time economy. Street Marshalls and pastors also carry them.