A new initiative aimed at cleaning up public spaces and curbing anti-social behaviour has been rolled out in Newport, with other Island towns set to follow.
Operation Clean and Safe is being led by the Isle of Wight Council’s Public Realm Officer Team, working in partnership with the West Wight Neighbourhood Policing Team.
The operation will see officers enforcing Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) – legal measures that allow councils to tackle anti-social behaviour in public areas – and tackling environmental offences such as dog fouling, dogs off leads in restricted areas, and littering.
Newport is the first town to be targeted, with patrols already underway in key locations including St James’ Square, Church Litten, and the bus station.
Officers from the council and Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary will be on hand to engage with residents and visitors, encourage responsible behaviour, and issue Fixed Penalty Notices where required.
Councillor Karen Lucioni, who chairs the council’s environment and community protection committee, has said:
“Operation Clean and Safe is a practical step towards improving the quality of our public spaces.
“We’re working with our partners to make sure people take responsibility and that our town centres can remain places people feel proud of.”
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Natasha Dix, service director for waste, environment and planning, adds:
“Operation Clean and Safe is about more than enforcement — it’s about pride in our Island.
“We all have a role to play in keeping our public spaces clean, safe and enjoyable for everyone. Whether it’s picking up after your dog, using bins properly, or respecting shared spaces, these small actions make a big difference.
“Our teams are here to support residents, but we will take action where needed.
“We’re working together to make sure our town centres reflect the values we hold as Islanders: respect, responsibility and care for our environment.”
The council has confirmed that other towns across the Island will be included in the operation in the coming months.
A really great initiative. I hope the illegal electric scooter riders are dealt with and the scooters crushed.
They are a menace and the riders seem to think they are above the law.
I grew up in an era when Police were seen walking every town and city and it was very effective.
I do realise the new demands on our undermanned Police forces. Government need to address underfunding as a matter of urgency.
“Government need to address underfunding as a matter of urgency.”
Ahhh,.. the Inevitable catch-22 of governments…
(almost) everybody thinks this or that (or all) public service (police, health, education, social care etc,) is worse than it should be, because of underfunding,.. but if a government even suggests increasing tax levels to pay for more funding… well apparently, that’s always wrong..
what we need is government which will give tax CUTS (especially to the rich), and improve public services for all, by ,.. erm… cutting public spending???
Reform ?? (great if you want to get rid of the NHS and All people of foreign origin, probably great if you’re rich, or racist)
Conservatives ?? (well 14 years of power & they just seem to have made it all worse)
Labour ?? (time will tell, but not exactly doing very well so far,… )
LibDems / Greens ?? lot of promise,.. but would they ./ could they actually deliver ??
Why is it the Government that needs to fund this. Everyone of us should be acting responsibly to keep our streets clean and safe. We are all adults. We either pick up our own mess or we have to pay a local precept to the local council to provide PCCs to walk about and remind people.
Sadly there is no law and order, we need more police on our
streets.
I agree scooters should be crushed, years ago if you rode
your bike home with no lights on the police would act.
How times have changed, not for the better.
It’s 2025 surveillance is possible yet people get away with
so much.
Lovely another money making scheme just what was needed how about putting more actual police officers on the street instead !!!!!!
Islandwide CCTV is required.
Too many people throw rubbish on the floor
cigarette butts etc etc.
Some dog owners don’t clear up after their
dogs.
Good luck catching the numpties, cannot catch
spending motorists or numpties parking on pavements
and dounle yellow lines.
We need more law and order on the Island.
Cannot catch “Spending” motorists and “Dounle” yellow lines?
Several years ago, this was carried out on the mainland in Havant and Waterlooville. Smokers were found to be the worst litter bugs, just flicking their butts anywhere that they wanted. What a wake up call. It soon stopped as a lot of them were fined, but it soon made the streets cleaner.