Norbury residents are calling for the Council and police to take action against anti-social behaviour in their local park.

The Friends of Norbury Park has launched a petition requesting the introduction of a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO), an order banning specific acts in a geographical area, to provide police with greater powers to prevent ‘anti-social’ groups gathering in the park.

Residents claim the park is littered daily by groups of drinkers and drug takers, who make locals feel unsafe.

Ian Clarke, Chair of the Friends of Norbury Hall Park, said: “We want everyone to be able to enjoy Norbury Hall Park, but the actions of a few are now beginning to make the park seem unsafe and people are starting to avoid it, which is a terrible shame.

“Croydon Council needs to take action now.

“A PSPO will empower local police to tackle this growing problem and ensure the park is clean, open and safe for everyone.”

PSPOs, which are granted by councils, allow the police to act against behaviour in a given area which would not otherwise constitute a criminal offence.

They have come under criticism from civil rights groups for restricting the free use of public spaces.

On the other hand, supporters argue PSPOs protect public spaces from being misused.

A Council spokeswoman said: "Council officers met with the local police to conduct a park visit within the last two weeks, in response to concerns raised by the local community.

"The council and police have issued a number (32) of Community Protection Notice Warnings to individuals believed to be at the heart of some of the complaints, alleged to be responsible for street drinking and /or drug use.

"These warnings are the start of a formal enforcement process to discourage behaviours that negatively impact a community.

"Failing to do so can result in a formal Notice being served, which if breached could lead to fixed penalty notice being issued, or prosecution at the Magistrates Court, or lead to an application for a Civil Injunction.

"Whilst consideration for a PSPO can be given, we must firstly look to exhaust all other measures and powers available to us and police in order to prevent and divert anti-social behaviour."

The petition was launched at a family fun day in the park on 16th September.

Spanning eight acres, ‘Squirrel Park’ as it is also known, was originally the gardens of Norbury Hall, a Georgian mansion that is now a residential care home.

Concerned residents established The Friends of Norbury Hall Park in November 2017.

Since then the group has worked with the Council to resurface paths and install new bins. The toilets will also be refurbished shortly.

The petition will be presented to the Council at the end of October.

You can view it here: https://www.change.org/p/london-borough-of-croydon-stop-anti-social-drinking-in-norbury-hall-park-17b16e2e-b872-4a14-bba6-d8a880aeea9a