Promised clampdown on illegal Bridge Street cycling put on hold despite new fining powers for Peterborough City Council

Council leader Councillor John Holdich had promised that council staff would ticket all cyclists illegally pedalling on Bridge Street when staff received fining powers for the first time.

But despite those powers coming into force on Monday (October 17), the council has discovered it is still not allowed to hand out fixed penalty notices because Bridge Street cycling is classed as a road traffic offence, which only the police can enforce.

The council is now in the process of getting that rule changed but admits it has no timeframe for when that will happen.

A council spokesman said: “Initially, only warranted police officers within the PES [Prevention and Enforcement Service] will have the power to fine cyclists on Bridge Street and will work alongside council officers.

“This is because cycling on Bridge Street is currently classified as a road traffic offence. The process is well underway to change this order to allow any PES officer to enforce the cycling ban on Bridge Street.”

The delay in clamping down on illegal cycling in Bridge Street will be a disappointment to Cllr Holdich who has always made it a priority of his leadership.

The PES combines council, police, fire service and prison staff in one service.

And starting from Monday, council staff in the PES will have new Community Safety Accreditation Scheme powers which give them the ability to take action against a wider range of community issues. These include littering, begging and cycling on pavements.

Council officers also retain existing powers available to them, including parking and housing enforcement.

The PES is re-launching on Monday and will be made up of total of 112 officers including 16 police constables, 30 police community support officers and 30 council prevention and enforcement officers.

Other members include CCTV operators, crime reduction and fire service community safety officers as well as senior officers from all organisations to manage the service.

The service will be structured into three localities covering the whole city council area. Each of the three areas will have a service manager, senior officers and officers from across the different organisations, all focussed on addressing and preventing problems throughout the city’s communities.

The localities are:

. Eastern (all city centre / Dogsthorpe / Welland / Millfield)

. Northern (including Westwood / West town / Bretton / Paston / Werrington / North Rural)

. Southern (including Ortons / Staground / Fletton / Woodston / Hamptons)

On Monday, following the launch, officers will be taking part in the following activities:

. City centre patrols - targeting street drinking, anti-social behaviour, aggressive begging and cycling on pavements

. Officers supporting Operation Sceptre - the police’s city-wide knife amnesty

. Patrols in Woodston to target drug dealing, illegal parking, street drinking, anti-social behaviour and engaging with the public

. Visits to houses in multiple occupancy across the city to check on the safety of residents and to check for signs of over-crowding.

Cllr Holdich said: “This new service, which extends the powers of the council’s enforcement officers, will tackle a number of issues that people contact me about regularly.

“I’ve listened to their concerns and believe that our new approach will play a part in tackling concerns like fly-tipping and littering as well as working to prevent issues such as drug dealing and child sexual exploitation.

“The Prevention and Enforcement Service covers the whole of the city and our rural areas, however the city centre will remain a key area of focus to ensure we help make the experience for everybody that uses it an enjoyable and trouble-free one.”

Chief Inspector Rob Hill, joint head of the SaferPeterborough Prevention and Enforcement Service, said: “The PES will be evidence led and our team will use data to highlight activities that need to be addressed.

“Staff will be directed on a daily basis to deal with calls received from the public alongside work on crime prevention initiatives, but when there is an identified need the full team can come together and work wherever directed across the city.

“For example – if we are suffering a spate of arson attacks in a particular area the whole team could be used to increase patrols in that community. This gives us the opportunity to mobilise large numbers at short notice to deal with the issues that really impact on our residents.”

Station Commander Karl Bowden, joint head of the SaferPeterborough Prevention and Enforcement Service, said: “As the name of the service suggests there will be a major focus on prevention around issues such as fly-tipping and accidental fires.

“The best way of solving these issues in the community is to prevent it from happening in the first place and a key role of the new service will be to get out into our communities and engage with residents.”

The public can report issues and concerns to the Prevention and Enforcement Service via the MyPeterborough App or they can call 101 or 01733 747474. 999 should only be used in an emergency.

POWERS

Police officers who are part of the PES will retain their full powers. They are the only members of the team who will have the power of arrest.

Powers available to council PES officers:

. Enforce and issue fixed penalty notices:

. For cycling on footpath

. For dog fouling

. For graffiti and flyposting

. For littering

. In relation to offences against certain by-law

. For wasting police time, giving a false report