North Devon residents are being invited to have their say on measures to address antisocial behaviour in town centres.

North Devon Council is seeking to renew the Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) which is in place in Barnstaple and Ilfracombe and has launched a consultation for members of the public to voice their opinions on the measures.

The PSPO aims to prevent nuisance behaviours such as street drinking, drug use, public urination and aggressive begging, as well as antisocial behaviour that can have a detrimental impact on the local community.

A breach of the PSPO can lead to a £100 fixed penalty, of which failure to pay can result in court proceedings and a fine of up to £1,000.

The PSPO is largely the same as the one introduced in 2020. Proposed changes include the ability to disperse one person, as well as groups of two or more. The PSPO area has also been slightly expanded in Barnstaple to include Rotary Gardens and Portmarsh.

The consultation is now open, and will close on 6 November 2023.

Leader of North Devon Council, Councillor Ian Roome, says: "The antisocial behaviour PSPO allows us to directly deal with conduct that can have a damaging impact on peoples lives, so I would encourage people to take part in the consultation and have their say. The PSPO empowers the police and our own ASB officers, neighbourhood wardens and street marshals to address negative behaviour and ensure our town centres are places residents and visitors alike can enjoy safely."

To have your say complete our short online survey.

For more information, visit the council's community consultations page.