AROUND 70 businesses and residents in the Pill area of Newport have petitioned the council to reinstate measures cracking down on sexual exploitation in the area.

Earlier this year Newport City Council drew up a draft public spaces protection order (PSPO) for Pill after a previous one expired in July last year.

However, after the public consultation had concluded, Gwent Police requested the sexual exploitation element of the PSPO to be removed as this was being dealt with using alternative measures.

PSPOs are aimed at preventing anti-social behaviour and can be enforced by police and council officers, with breaches of the order constituting a criminal offence, resulting in fines of up to £1,000.

Sexual exploitation was considered too serious by Gwent Police to be dealt with via a fine.

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Instead, the proposed PSPO will cover issues such as aggressive begging, spitting, littering, unsafe use of scooters and bikes and defecation and urinating in public.

A petition signed by around 70 members of the community, which was due to be submitted this afternoon, reads: “We the undersigned residents/businesses of Pillgwenlly are directly impacted by the decision of Gwent Police and Newport City Council to remove the restriction around prostitution from the proposed PSPO; we urge you please to reinstate this restriction into the order.”

The petition refers to the initial consultation, where 97 per cent of people agreed with the statement “No person shall enter the restricted area and attempt to buy sexual services from another person”.

Local campaigner and former council ward member for Pill, Omar Ali, said that it was important that those at risk were protected and the local residents also supported.

He said: “These people need to be safe and the council needs to step up to the plate.

“The restriction should be reinstated as well as the things the police are already doing.

“These public bodies have failed this community for many years.

“It’s heartbreaking for residents like me.”

Curtis Laurence who handles marketing for No 1 Barbers on Commercial Road, said he sees prostitution every day.

He said: “They’re not getting the support.

“It’s got worse because of Covid and it’s not fair to all the good businesses around here that have so much potential.”

A council report says that, since August 31 last year, 35 people have been arrested for soliciting in the Pill ward, with 28 of those charged.

A further six arrests were made in this time relating to street sexually exploited adults, which were non-prostitution offences, the report says.

Temporary assistant chief constable at Gwent Police, Ian Roberts, said: “We’ve worked with Newport City Council and other partners on the PSPO to address concerns about crime in Pill. These include anti-social behaviour, street drinking and drug taking.

“The proposed PSPO was also part of a wider public consultation, allowing members of the community to express their views before the council decides on the appropriate course of action to take.

“Some offences that take place within our communities can be dealt with more effectively by laws that are already in place and working with other key partners.

“Gwent Police has a good track record of targeting those who exploit the most vulnerable in our communities as part of ongoing operations and this work will continue.”

A spokesman for the city council said: “The Pillgwenlly PSPO was subject to a full consultation process including scrutiny committee, public and partners, including Gwent Police. 

“The draft order will be deliberated by full council, where the final format will be considered and agreed.”

Full council will make a decision on the Pill PSPO tomorrow, Tuesday.