NEW measures could be brought in by Middlesbrough’s Mayor to crack down on crime and anti-social behaviour in the town centre.

Mayor Andy Preston is proposing a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) for the central TS1 area - with more to follow if the move is successful.

The orders give greater powers to tackle a range of issues in a specific area such as begging, cycling on pavements and other forms of disorder.

The measures will build on the recent boost to the number of Street Wardens equipped with body-worn cameras, and an increase in the number of fixed penalty notices (FPNs) issued for a range of offences.

Mayor Preston said: “Residents and businesses are sick to death of a rising tide of crime and anti-social behaviour.

“We need to take rapid and positive action now to make streets safer and reassure decent people.”

An informal consultation launched this week, running until noon on Monday, June 24 to gauge local views on the issues they face, and potential solutions.

This would be followed by a statutory consultation period and a decision by the Council’s Executive, with any order likely to come into effect in the autumn.

Ayresome Primary School headteacher Lisa Biggin, welcomed the move, saying the community needs to work together to address its issues.

Mayor Preston added: “These orders can make a real difference, but we need to hear from local people about the issues that affect them if they are to be fully effective.

“This is all about making Middlesbrough a safer and better place to be for everyone, from residents and visitors to businesses and workers. If successful, we will certainly look at rolling this out to other areas of town where problems exist.”