Efforts to tackle antisocial behaviour in Glastonbury through new legal measures may fall short due to enforcement challenges and the financial hardship faced by many offenders.
Avon and Somerset Constabulary, in partnership with Somerset Council and the Safer Somerset Partnership, is working to introduce a public space protection order (PSPO). This measure would empower officers to issue fines for antisocial activities such as street drinking to improve safety and support local businesses.
Councillor Ewan Cameron, representing the Glastonbury division, urged the partnership to implement the PSPO before May 1, ahead of the busy tourist season. However, police officials caution against relying solely on the PSPO as a “blunt instrument.” They emphasize that issuing fines to those unable to pay is ineffective and undermines enforcement efforts.
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During a November 7 workshop in Glastonbury, attended by MP Sarah Dyke, Councillor Federica Smith-Roberts, and Inspector Rachel Clark, the complexities of rolling out the PSPO were discussed. Cameron reiterated these concerns during a council meeting on November 20, highlighting local business community support for timely action.
“It’s acknowledged that additional resources have been allocated,” said Cameron. “But realistically, it could take six months or longer to establish the PSPO for Glastonbury. The business community is eager for enforcement by Beltane, May 1, ideally by April 1. I am ready to collaborate to achieve this.”
Claire Stewart of the Safer Somerset Partnership explained that while PSPOs are useful, they are not a standalone solution. Historically, Somerset has implemented fewer PSPOs compared to other areas, partly because previous attempts faltered without sufficient resources. “We faced a ‘toothless tiger’ problem—issuing tickets and warnings that went unenforced because many offenders couldn’t pay,” Stewart noted.
She stressed the importance of coordinated and well-resourced partnership policing as a more effective approach to reducing antisocial behaviour. Lucy Macready, the council’s strategic manager for community safety, highlighted resource constraints, warning that simultaneous PSPOs across multiple areas could stretch enforcement capacity too thinly.
“If PSPOs are applied in isolation, enforcement becomes inconsistent and community trust suffers,” Macready said. “We’re aware of entrenched issues such as persistent street drinking in Glastonbury. If the same individuals repeatedly refuse to pay fines, the PSPO loses effectiveness.”
Authorities are committed to deploying the PSPO carefully and quickly but emphasize the need for complementary strategies to address underlying vulnerabilities. The goal is a sustainable reduction in antisocial behaviour that supports both residents and businesses across Somerset.