POLICE are set to tackle anti-social behaviour problems around Monks Walk in Evesham.

Officers are targeting the hotspot, which includes Abbey Park and Workman Gardens due to people urinating in the park, poor parking, people consuming alcohol and general public nuisance.

The problems encountered by residents include vehicles parking on double yellow lines on Bridge Street including Taxis and local business owners and customers.

This has in-turn led to Anti-social behaviour in the street near Monks Walk causing noise disturbance.

Parking on the Riverside Shopping Centre and Monks Walk access road is also causing difficulty for residents to access their properties.

They are also targeting anti-social behaviour in Abbey Park caused by street drinkers and also groups of youths.

PC Holly Aungiers, who is leading the operation, said: "We are taking a multi-agency approach to design out anti-social behaviour around Monks Walk, Workman Gardens and Abbey Park.

"Police will be assisting other agencies and the Monks Walk residents to target harden these areas. Police will continue high visibility patrols, robust enforcement of legislation and will be looking at local licensing.”

It follows a similar effort in Workman Gardens, where police were targeting people consuming alcohol.

In this case the Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) prohibits consuming alcohol in Workman Gardens.

This allows police and other authorised persons to enforce the order through requesting offenders to desist from the activity or surrender alcohol in their possession.

Failure to comply with the prohibitions is a criminal offence for which Police/authorised persons can issue a Fixed Penalty Notice fine on summary conviction.

The council is looking to extend the PSPO on Workman Gardens and is considering the inclusion of Abbey Park.

Matt Snape, Wychavon District Councillor for Evesham South said: "It is something I have had complaints about from residents and I did a lot of work over the summer on. It is now a non-drinking zone.

"There have been a number of concerns about people drinking in the park, although there is no suggestion that those people are causing any harm to anyone.

"I think people find it quite intimidating as it is not something we are used to in Evesham but it is more common for Eastern European people to drink in public parks. It is something they do in their culture.

"But certainly I can see why people find it intimidating and I am on the side of those residents."