Newport City Council is considering banning drinking in public in one area of the city due to high levels of antisocial behaviour. A public spaces protection order (PSPO) is being considered for the Maesglas area where the council says antisocial behaviour "continues to be a problem" despite a clampdown during the pandemic.
A similar order was made for the area back in 2018 which restricted access to a public path behind Maesglas shops on Cardiff Road, gave police powers to stop people drinking or hand over containers suspected to contain alcohol or selling intoxicating substances. The order was in effect for three years and expired in 2021.
But the council has now launched a public consultation to consider reinstating a PSPO, which gives the authorities powers to clamp down on anti-social behaviour in areas where it is "persistent" or "unreasonable." Anyone who breaches such an order can face fines of up to £1,000.
