Much of West Ealing is to become a protected zone from Monday, 3 April after local residents and businesses overwhelmingly supported proposals to give council enforcement officers and police extra powers.

More than 90% of people who responded to a six-week public consultation agreed with Ealing Council creating a public space protection order (PSPO) to help deter anti-social behaviour and deal with problems, such as drug use, street drinking and public urination.

From today a number of activities deemed detrimental to the quality of life of local people will be banned. These include anti-social street drinking, loitering in groups which are engaging in anti-social behaviour, urinating or defecating in public areas, drunk adults using the children’s playground, littering with bottles, cans or drugs paraphernalia and using illegal drugs or psychoactive substances in public areas.

People who refuse to abide by the prohibitions when challenged will be subject to a £100 fixed penalty notice. The order will last for three years, unless the council varies the length during that time.

The first week of the order will see a week of action from council teams. This will include clean-ups of fly-tipping and littering hotspots, alcohol licensing compliance checks, increased patrols and distributing leaflets with information on the PSPO to local businesses.

Responses to the public consultation highlighted a number of fly-tipping and street drinking hotspots in the zone. Council officers will continue to work with residents, police and other local organisations to solve these long-term anti-social behaviour issues.

Councillor Ranjit Dheer, cabinet member for community services and safety, said: “This order is about improving residents’ quality of life and making West Ealing a better place to live. We know that there have been ongoing and persistent problems in the neighbourhood’s parks and public spaces and local people have had enough. The creation of this protected zone will give council and police officers more powers to tackle the issue head on and make the local area safer and more pleasant for everyone.”

More information on the PSPO is available at www.ealing.gov.uk/pspo.

Sgt Guy Rooney of MPS Norwood Green tweeted “We are working with Ealing Council to bring this legislation to Southall.”

Response of Southall resident Jags Sanghera? was “The sooner the better. The majority of law abiding citizens will support this. Making Southall Safer.”

John Martin?, Owner of John Martin Estates, response was “Great news. Hopefully it'll come to Southall very soon. This should make the job of stopping anti-social behaviour a little easier.”