March 10, 2020 12.18 pm This story is over 48 months old

Sex, drugs and boy racers: Anti-social incidents blight Lincoln car parks

Council now wants to introduce a public protection order
Lucy Tower car park on Brayford Pool. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

People having sex, drug use and boy racers are among the 700 anti-social behaviour incidents reported at Lincoln’s car parks last year.

City of Lincoln Council officials recorded a total of 705 incidents at the city’s Lucy Tower, Broadgate and Central car parks.

Among them include youths riding bikes around the multi-storeys, rough sleepers and people using the stairwells as toilets.

It comes as the council proposed implementing a public space protection order in the three car parks after it received numerous reports of anti-social behaviour.

Photo: The Lincolnite

The PSPO would prevent entry for people who are not using the parking facilities.

Number of incidents in 2019

  • Broadgate -369
  • Lucy Tower – 212
  • Central – 124

Among the most common incidents were drug taking, abusive youths and rough sleeping.

City council officials said incidents of drug use were a core of 20 to 30 people who were continuously found in the car parks.

The Lincoln Central Car Park. Photo: The Lincolnite

Other incidents included a male and female having sex on level two of Broadgate, teenagers spitting on people from the top level of Lucy Tower and people setting the fire alarm off in Central car park.

If approved by the council, a PSPO would be put in place at the car parks for three years before being reviewed.

Simon Colburn, Assistant Director for Health and Environment at City of Lincoln Council, said: “Introducing a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) in these car parks would assist Lincolnshire Police and the city council in dealing with individuals whose behaviour is having a detrimental effect on other people’s quality of life.

“We want people to enjoy Lincoln and use these car parks knowing they are in a safe and welcoming environment. We are committed to ensuring our city centre continues to be a safe place to visit.

“A PSPO would allow us to tackle the issues faced in these car parks and also allow us to support those in need.”

The order would be enforced by the council’s anti-social behaviour team and the city’s intervention team – which recently secured funding until 2021.

Senior city councillors will decide on the PSPO at a later date.

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