A ban on hoodies covering faces has been introduced in parts of Sefton in an attempt to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour.
The Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) applies to Bootle and Litherland and is designed to stop individuals or groups committing offences in public spaces.
These orders are given to areas with a particular nuisance or problem that is harmful to the local community’s qualify of life.
The new ban, brought in by Sefton Council, will also mean that dogs have to stay on their leads and groups of two people or more causing trouble will be immediately separated.
Ian Willman, Service Manager for Neighbourhoods and Partnerships of Sefton Council, told JMU Journalism: “It is hoped that the use of the PSPO will disrupt the organised crime groups and reduce the anti-social behaviour caused by these individuals. It is part of a wider approach to how we in Sefton disrupt this activity and ensure that our thriving communities in Linacre and Litherland continue to do so.”
Merseyside Police and Sefton Councils Anti-Social Behaviour team had to gather information and material to support an application for the order for the specified wards.
The team found substantial evidence in these areas which included gun and gang injunctions, recorded instances of ASB, recoveries of weapons and statements from the police which made these parts of Liverpool which were considered at high risk more likely to obtain the order.
Merseyside’s Police Commissioner Jane Kennedy said: “Public space protection orders (PSPO) are a new tool available to councils to help reduce these problems in their areas and I welcome Sefton’s decision to take a firm stance and introduce one of those orders. I look forward with interest to seeing the positive impact it has for the people living within the neighbourhoods it covers.”
The PSPO will be for an initial period of three years. However, this will be regularly reviewed to monitor its effectiveness, and will be adjusted if police feel appropriate.