Breckland Council has approved a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) for Dereham.

It will give police and council officers the authority to confiscate alcohol, issue penalty notices and force individuals to leave the town centre for up to six hours.

The order also prohibits begging that causes alarm or distress, bans loitering around public toilets, restricts anti-social use of bicycles and e-scooters, and also outlaws public urination.

Similar legislation is already in place within the district in Thetford and Watton.

The decision follows years of complaints from residents, much of it centred on the controversial NR19 hotel, which has been used by councils as temporary accommodation for more than a decade. 

Hotel N19 in Dereham has come under increasing scrutiny in recent months (Image: Supplied)

The meeting at Dereham Town Football Club last year (Image: Henry Durand)

Last year, concerns grew so strong that around 250 locals attended a public meeting to demand action from council leaders, raising concerns about individuals loitering outside the building to drink and take drugs.

A subsequent public consultation over the PSPO saw 97pc of 219 respondents back the proposed restrictions.

The zone the order will cover has also been extended to include Sandy Lane and parts of Girling Road amid fears the problem would shift to neighbouring areas. 

The area the PSPO will cover (Image: Breckland)

Conservative councillor Tristan Ashby, who led the motion, said: “Residents tell us they are concerned for their safety.

“Businesses are reporting a negative impact on trade, and vulnerable people are increasingly exposed to harmful behaviour in public spaces.

"Introducing the PSPO will improve public confidence and feelings of safety, support local business and revitalise the town centre."

Despite the landmark decision, concerns remain about how effective the order will be.

Reform UK councillor Scott Hussey pointed to a passage in the council's own report acknowledging that public expectations may exceed what officers can practically deliver. 

Reform councillor Stuart Hussey (Image: Reform UK)

"The fact that matters have deteriorated to this point is very regrettable," he said.

"This is necessary, and a good first step."

Mr Ashby said the order would not solve the issue entirely, adding: "This is not a silver bullet.

“We are not going to eradicate anti-social behaviour in Dereham town centre entirely - it's just not going to happen." 

Other measures being implemented by the council to tackle concerns include the roll out of street wardens and a resident-led task force.

Simon Jones, an inspector for Norfolk Police, confirmed no additional police resources would be allocated as part of the PSPO.

Locals in Dereham have complained about anti-social behaviour in the town for years (Image: Newsquest)

He also said that official figures show crime is actually falling in the area and the order was partly about restoring public confidence.

“By adding something like a PSPO it gives us another string to our bow in terms of that enforcement capability," he said.

“Crime is still declining but the problem is the public perception doesn't marry up with that.

“It's very much the opinion that they don't feel that, they feel it's getting worse even though the figures suggest otherwise. The PSPO will assist in doing that.”

Conservative councillor Alison Webb added that rehabilitation was also crucial as part of the bid to tackle crime. 

"We cannot just beat them all with a big stick or move them on somewhere else - we have to reach out and try to help them have a proper life," she said.

The order will run for three years, with the council due to report back to the general purposes committee in six months time.

© Eastern Daily Press