People drinking alcohol in the street and harassing others in Ramsey town centre will be issued fines in a move to tackle anti-social behaviour.

Huntingdonshire District Council has agreed to introduce a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) in response to reports of anti-social behaviour that has been causing “alarm and distress” in the town centre.

The authority said there have been specific problems along Great Whyte, including public intoxication, and intimidating behaviour.

A report published by the district council said that from the end of February to the end of August this year police received 32 reports of incidents in Great Whyte, 24 of which were in relation to street drinking.

Under the PSPO people will not be allowed to have an open vessel of alcohol or another intoxicating substance in the area covered by the order.

People will also breach the order if they use a narcotic substance, urinate or defecate in public, or act in an intimidating way, such as aggressively shouting at people, or harassing people in the street.

Breaching the order could result in a £100 fine, or prosecution at court, which has a maximum penalty of £1,000.

The district council held a public consultation to gather views on the proposed PSPO.

Of those who responded, 318 people said they supported the order, with only three people saying they were against it.

Some of those in support said they thought the PSPO would be “fantastic” claiming “anti-social behaviour is ruining the town”.

However, some people raised concerns that the order could push the anti-social behaviour into other parts of the town not covered by the PSPO.

Councillors considered the plans for the order at a meeting of the licensing and protection committee this week (October 16).

Councillor Patricia Jordan said a theme running through the consultation responses she had picked up on were concerns about the anti-social behaviour being pushed into Mill Lane.

She asked why that area had not been included in the proposed PSPO area.

Council officers said they had spoken to police about the park, but said at this stage they did not have statistics for incidents in that area to back up a proposal to extend the PSPO.

However, they said if issues are displaced to that area then an extension could be considered.

Officers also told the meeting that the order had the support of police and said the force had committed to helping enforce the PSPO and will increase their patrols in the town centre.

Councillor Patrick Kadewere said he was pleased to hear that the police would be supporting the order enforcement.

Councillor Stephen Ferguson said he understood why some people may doubt if the PSPO will be useful.

However, he highlighted a separate report presented to the committee looking at the impact of the PSPO that was introduced in Eynesbury earlier this year, which said reports of anti-social behaviour in the area had reduced.

He said this showed the orders can result in a “significant decline in anti-social behaviour”.

The committee voted unanimously to support the introduction of the PSPO in Ramsey.