HullBID urges businesses to back safety and security improvements
CONNECTING: Emma Hardy, left, and Kathryn Shillito at the forum hosted by HullBID
By Rick Lyon, Co-Editor
Partners working to improve safety and security in Hull city centre reported progress on all fronts when they met at a forum arranged and hosted by HullBID and attended by Hull West and Haltemprice MP Emma Hardy.
Representatives of Hull City Council, Humberside Police and support agencies promised their efforts will continue and they urged businesses to play their part by responding to the current consultation on a new Public Space Protection Order (PSPO).
Kathryn Shillito, HullBID executive director, said: “We know from our member businesses that street drinking, begging and homelessness can be a real nuisance and many of the calls our support officers receive are regarding alcohol-driven anti-social behaviour.
“It’s therefore imperative that business owners use the PSPO consultation to let the authorities know the scale of the problem and provide them with the hard evidence they need to extend the protection which is currently in place.”
The meeting reviewed a range of subjects including business performance, the city’s response to the violence and damage on Saturday, August 3, antisocial behaviour and begging.
Kathryn said: “It is encouraging to hear that businesses are bearing up well to the current economic challenges. Recovery from the disturbances in August was quick and effective and incidences of antisocial behaviour and begging are being dealt with swiftly.
“It was clear that all of this is down to the regular engagement between city partners. The PSPO is seen by many as an important step in taking that further and that’s why businesses need to share their experiences.”
The city council is consulting now with residents, local businesses and visitors to potentially amend the current PSPO that expires on March 21, 2025, and renew it with additional prohibitions to tackle street drinking, begging and homelessness in public places.
The consultation covers the Central ward and St Andrews and Docklands ward which takes in the city centre. It also extends across Drypool, Newington and Gipsyville, Avenue, Bricknell, Orchard Park, University, and Beverley and Newland.
Among the key questions are whether the PSPO is still required and whether it covers the right geographical areas. Respondents are also being asked to consider whether the PSPO should add further prohibitions around certain behaviour considered likely to cause harassment, alarm, distress, nuisance or annoyance.
The public consultation will close on December 2, 2024. To access and complete the survey, scan the QR code below.
Emma Hardy said: “I visited the HullBID Dino Day and was so impressed to see how everybody had pulled together to show the city centre at its best only days after the horrors of Saturday, August 3. But we need more days like Dino Day, so it’s really important that businesses have their say in the PSPO consultation.”
Kathryn said: “When Emma asked us to pull together a meeting of key stakeholders to discuss anti-social behaviour and other disruptive issues, it was great to have the support of so many around the table. That’s what HullBID and our partners do – we connect, we share and find solutions for a safe, appealing city centre.”