A community safety team have alerted people to antisocial behaviour at a cemetery, and warned that the graveyard is now under a new protection order.

Cherwell District Council Community Safety Team went to St Edburg’s cemetery in Bicester on Wednesday after complaints from the public regarding antisocial behaviour.

The safety team shared via twitter that the disturbance involved a male and a female drinking excessively, fighting, swearing and arguing at a bench in the cemetery.

The tweet also emphasized the cemetery is now a restricted area within Bicester’s new Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO).

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The order was adopted by Cherwell District Council’s executive on Monday, June 6.

It grants community wardens and the police new powers to tackle behaviour such as loitering in a way which causes, or is likely to cause, antisocial behaviour, street drinking and begging.

Les Sibley, Councillor for Bicester West, said: “I support the initiative. Especially in regard to antisocial behaviour.

“Cemeteries have caused a lot of concern for local residents recently, with a couple of nasty situations involving drinking and drugs.

“I’m in favour of the order, but it’s a shame because it’s the behaviour of just a few people which upsets the entire community.

“You’d have thought people would have the common sense to enjoy public spaces without causing problems for others.”

 

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This story was written by Matthew Norman, he joined the team in 2022 as a Facebook community reporter.

Matthew covers Bicester and focuses on finding stories from diverse communities.

Get in touch with him by emailing: Matthew.norman@newsquest.co.uk

Follow him on Twitter: @OxMailMattN1

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