A crackdown on anti-social behaviour around coastal and visitor spaces is expected to be extended
Formby beach(Image: wellsie82 via Getty Images)
A naked man spotted in sand dunes was among those reported as flouting Sefton Council’s beach rules in the last two years. Since 2022, the borough council has implemented a public spaces protection order (PSPO) which places restrictions on activities around coastal and visitor areas.
When councillors meet at Southport Town Hall on Thursday, they will be asked to agree to plans to extend the existing rules for a further three years. This includes giving officers power to confiscate alcohol where they suspect anti-social behaviour and banning barbecues from the beaches at Formby and Crosby.
Analysis of the period in which the PSPO has been in effect has identified some of the most egregious examples of people breaking the rules. These include coastal rangers finding a nude man in the dunes and an 11-year-old behind the wheel of a car in a beach car park.
More than 2,000 incidents have been dealt with by Green Sefton coastal rangers since 2023, with almost 1,500 relating to offences within the existing PSPO boundary.
The areas of the extended coast and visitor PSPO include not only areas managed by the council such as the coastline, and certain parks but sites including – such as the National Trust owned areas of the Formby Coast, Natural England’s National Nature Reserve in Freshfield/Ainsdale, Lancashire Wildlife Trust areas, and the RSPB reserve at Marshside.
People enjoy the hot weather on Formby beach(Image: Liverpool Echo)
The rules are monitored by council officials and partner agencies in a bid to maintain the coastline and protect against any damage. The PSPO allows fixed penalty notices to be issued when individuals are flouting the rules.
Among the other issues reported include suspicious drunken behaviour, multiple barbecues and fly-tipping. Horse welfare matters were also noted given restrictions on where they are permitted to be ridden.
The move to extend the order was endorsed by Merseyside Police inspector Kenneth Sumner.
In a council report published ahead of members meeting later this week, he said there had been 12 reports of anti-social behaviour in the coastal and visitor areas. The majority of these involve youths playing with fireworks or attempting to light fires in the evening.
Signage was extensively put up in 2022 at almost 100 locations and has largely remained intact despite some minor acts of vandalism. Should councillors agree to extend the PSPO, this would continue for a further three years until July 2028.
No overnight stays on sites would be permitted without written endorsement, while the report said “actions such as weeing, spitting, pooing are not allowed outdoors in these areas”.