Over the past year there have been varying influxes of people rough sleeping in Stourbridge Town Centre.
During the summer months I received significant correspondence from residents concerned about the rise in rough sleepers in the town centre. I immediately raised concerns with Dudley Council and West Midlands Police to investigate.
Every time I have reported these issues to the local policing team, they have been very proactive and have arrested a number of individuals for breach of Community Protection Notice due to rough sleeping. However, some had been released.
The police are working with Dudley Council looking for a longer-term solution and a possible Public Place Protection Order to tackle this issue. However, this isn’t a quick fix and needs involvement from all partners.
The Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 gives Councils the power to make Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs) to ban any activities they consider to have a detrimental effect on the lives of others.
I do believe that the Public Place Protection Order is the way forward, but it has to be done correctly and with collaboration from all stakeholders.
I will continue to monitor any increases in the number of rough sleepers and report to the police where necessary.