TROUBLEMAKERS may be dealt with on the spot as Cheshire East Council has vowed to use new powers to crack down on anti-social hotspots.

Cheshire East Council’s communities and enforcement teams now have the power to apply Public Space Protection Orders and issue on-the-spot fines to individuals who breach an order.

The new powers, under the Anti-Social Behaviour Crime and Police Act 2014, will eliminate the need for court proceedings or civil action, and allow Cheshire East to empower its officers to take immediate action.

The new measures, introduced by the government last year, could be applied in at least five areas in the borough, including two areas in Crewe that has seen regular anti-social behaviour.

Cheshire East Council leader, Michael Jones said: “These are tough new measures which we intend to enforce robustly on behalf of the decent residents and families of Cheshire East who do not wish to have their lives disturbed day after day by gangs and individuals who have no thought for others.

“But I would stress that there are often young victims as a result of this trend in the use of legal highs and peer pressure from gangs and it is those young people that I want my council to reach out to, to help them to lead normal and healthy lives and receive the support they need.”

The council may also invoke powers to close premises it considers to be the source of public nuisance and disorder, under proposals set to be voted on at a cabinet meeting next week.

This could apply to environmental protection officers, trading standards, planning, housing officers and even park rangers. Police will have the same powers under the Act.

The same powers will also enable the Council to tackle the growing public concerns surrounding psychoactive substances, otherwise known as legal highs, both in public open spaces and shops.

Cllr Les Gilbert, Cabinet member for communities, said: “We are ensuring that we have processes in place to deal with the impacts of legal highs, unwanted and undesirable gang behaviour in public open spaces and all types of anti-social nuisance that affect the quality of life of our residents.”