A legal order giving the authorities greater power to tackle anti-social behaviour has now formally been put in place in Redditch town centre. 

Redditch Borough Council has enacted the Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) following rising concerns from residents and after detailed consultations on the decision. 

The PSPO makes it an offence to refuse, when asked by a police officer or authorised council officers, to surrender alcohol, intoxicating substances and items used to take them. 

The new protection order also makes it an offence to refuse an instruction to leave the area for a set period of time. 

Councillor Lucy Harrison said: "This order means that authorities now have more ability to quickly tackle the kind of anti-social behaviour issues that many people have been concerned about in the town centre."

Authorised officers will also have additional powers to quickly deal with people behaving anti-socially inside the area covered by the PSPO by confiscating alcohol, issuing fines and making arrests. 

The order was requested by West Mercia Police with notices advising the new PSPO available to view online at www.redditchbc.gov.uk/consultations or by visiting the town hall, police station, library and train station. 

Leader of Redditch Borough Council, Matt Dormer, said: "I'd like to thank the police and all our community safety partners who have worked together with our team on this which will provide that extra confidence for the community." 

For more information visit www.redditchbc.gov.uk/TownCentrePSPO