POLICE have been given more powers to crack down on street drinking, drug taking and anti-social behaviour in the Pill area of Newport after a new order was given the green light.

A Public Space Protection Order banning drinking and the taking, selling or supplying of “any intoxicating substance” was approved unanimously by Newport City Council today.

The order also gives police and police community support officers the power to demand groups of three or more people leave the area, with a potential fine for breaching the order of £1,000.

It is being introduced following a reported increase in concerns around drug dealing, prostitution and other issues in the area.

Introducing the plans, the cabinet member for licensing and regulation Cllr Ray Truman described it as “a tool for police to use when they feel necessary”.

“There are a lot of great people living in Pill and they want to get on with their lives,” he said.

“This will allow them to do that.”

But he added: “This is not a panacea to solve all ills.

“It never will be.”

Pill ward member Cllr Ibrahim Hayat welcomed the order, saying it had been “a long time coming”.

“Pill is a wonderful place to live in,” he said. “It has wonderful community spirit.

“The issues we have to deal with are down to only a very small number of individuals

“This will make Pill better, cleaner, safer and more prosperous.”

But Lliswerry ward member Cllr Allan Morris said, while he welcomed the order, he believed it was a “shame” it had to be introduced.

Saying the problems in Pill and elsewhere in the city were largely the result of cuts to youth services, he added: “We’ve got to wake up to the idea that there is a generation falling by the wayside.”

A similar scheme was put in place in the city centre in November 2015, with some reported success in stamping out drinking and anti-social behaviour.

Cllr Miqdad Al-Nuaimi, whose Stow Hill ward covers the city centre, said the previous order had “without a doubt” made a difference to the area.

“I can remember a time when you went through the High Street and Commercial Street and you would see people drinking in the open and being very intimidating,” he said. “The order helped in avoiding that situation.”

In a statement, inspector Paul Davies of the Pill Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “Public Spaces Protection Orders are intended to deal with nuisance or problems in a particular area that are detrimental to the local community by imposing conditions which apply to everyone so that the majority of law-abiding people can use and enjoy our public spaces and be safe from anti-social behaviour.

“This order is one of a range of measures that can be used to educate and, if necessary, prosecute the minority of persons who cause offence.

“We know that these Public Space Protection Orders have had successful results in other areas of Newport and wider Gwent and we’re committed to working together to produce the same results in Pill.”