MP Gideon Amos has called for action to tackle bad behaviour in Castle Green, Taunton. Picture: Google

MP calls for action over anti-social behaviour in Taunton hotspot

Paul JonesMarch 12, 20250 Comment0

MP Gideon Amos has called for action to clamp down on “intractable” anti-social behaviour in a town centre spot.

The Lib Dem raised bad behaviour in Castle Green, Taunton, during a speech in Parliament on Monday (March 10).

Speaking during the second reading of the Crime and Policing Bill, he said he wanted to see a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) introduced in the area in response to problems in the historic spot, near the Castle Hotel, the Museum of Somerset, Mackenzie’s Bar & Kitchen, and the Hideout venues.

PSPOs aim to stamp out bad behaviour in particular areas.

Mr Amos told the Commons: “One of the biggest deterrents for criminals is the certainty of being caught, and reductions in police numbers nationally are as wrong as they are locally.

“In Avon and Somerset, the former Conservative Police and Crime Commissioner cut PCSOs by a further 80 last year – a massive 28% reduction – and closed our Taunton police station.”

In January, figures showed Avon & Somerset Police lost 60 PCSOs between September 2023 and September 2024, cutting the total number by almost of fifth (19.1%). This came after more than 4,500 PCSO roles were lost since 2015.

Mr Amos said after being contacted by businesses in Castle Green, he visited the site alongside Nick Barber, a Street Marshal employed by Taunton Town Council.

“I am really grateful to Avon and Somerset officers for the efforts they have put in, as I am to the chamber of commerce in Taunton, which has raised the general issue of town centre crime and convened the Safer Streets forum I attended last week,” he went on.

“But it is clear that we need to deter anti-social behaviour and crime where it is taking place.”

“(Nick) is doing an excellent job and covering a huge range of work, from people climbing all over the rooftops to retrieving thousands of pounds’ worth of stock by simply asking the person responsible to hand it over. He must have been quite persuasive in asking the individual to do that.

“But when I visited Castle Green with Nick, it was clear that the anti-social behaviour problems there have become intractable.

“I, therefore, suggest that we need to work with Somerset Council to get a Public Space Protection Order, and I hope the Government will support its enforcement.

“Too many of our great community events are marred by the anti-social few, and we need to tackle that.

“We need the public space of Castle Green – with its superb independent market, our famous Castle Hotel, the scheduled ancient monument which is the castle itself, and the Museum of Somerset where soon people will be able to see the Chew Valley Hoard of silver coins from the Norman Conquest.

“I cannot use those coins to pay for the enforcement of the Public Space Protection Order.

“But I hope it will have Government support so we can ensure that key public spaces are not subject to conquest by those who would disobey the law, wreak havoc among local people, damage livelihoods and tarnish the generally superb reputation of our county town.”