An order aimed at preventing anti-social behaviour has been reinstated in two areas of Blackburn following rising issues with firework abuse.
The Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) has been reintroduced by Blackburn with Darwen Council, two years after it last expired, in Bastwell and Robinson Street, due to a rise in anti-social behaviour.
Data published by the council shows between August 2023 and August 2026, there have been more than 230 reported incidents of anti-social behaviour in the two areas, almost 90 involving youths and 70 involving fireworks.
In recent weeks, fireworks problems have also returned, causing misery for residents.
The PSPO was first introduced in October 2015 due to high levels of anti-social behaviour in the affected area, particularly involving the use of fireworks and the setting of fires in the open.
It bans the collection of combustible materials to make bonfires in public areas, the use of fireworks on public land, and anti-social behaviour in the affected area.
It was renewed for a second time in 2018 and a third time in 2021 due to the problem behaviour persisting.
A multi-agency operation called Brightsparx was introduced in conjunction with the PSPO to tackle the problem, but it was felt that without the PSPO continuing this would not be as effective in protecting vulnerable residents.
The 2021 extension expired in 2024, with the council admitting this was due to a clerical error.
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It has now been brought back following discussions between top officials at Blackburn with Darwen Council.
A consultation with affected residents, councillors and the emergency services was in favour of the PSPO being reintroduced, with anyone breaching it liable to be fined £100 on the spot.
In a report to the council, it said: “I am satisfied on reasonable grounds that the anti-social behaviours the Bastwell Street and Robinson Street PSPO is intended to mitigate have continued since the expiry of the 2021 PSPO.
“We are reinstating the previous PSPO that was in place for the purposes of protecting the wider community and reducing the detrimental impact it is having on residents.”
The consultations highlighted concerns over the unlicensed sale of fireworks in the town, and urged the extension of the PSPO area to cover the Little Harwood Memorial Tower and Little Harwood Community Centre.
A “lack of visible police foot patrols” was also mentioned, while the police said it has already held sessions in local schools to highlight the dangers of fireworks.
The PSPO came back into force on Friday, October 16, and will be in place for three years.
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