Proposals To Close Lay-Bys Near Coleshill

Police Welcome Proposals To Close Lay-Bys Near Coleshill

Warwickshire Police has welcomed news that the Highways Agency is seeking to close two lay-bys in North Warwickshire on the border between Coleshill and Solihull.

“The lay-bys on the southbound carriageway of the A446 near to the M6 Junction 4 and on the A452 near to Sidings Wood have historically become the focus of violent crime, much of which is going unreported to the police, and local public concern regarding the sexual activity taking place.” explained PC Alan Spittles from Coleshill Police.

The two lay-bys have been used as public sex environments (PSE) by men meeting to have sex with other men (This is a specific classification and should not be seen as purely Gay men).

A series of issues have developed as a result of the lay-bys being used for this purpose and the police have raised a number of these with the Highways Agency over the past two years.

The police know people at these locations are being subjected to serious assaults, robbery and blackmail. Their vehicles are being damaged and they are being subjected to violent hate crime because they are gay or perceived to be gay by their attackers. This has also led to a number of indiscriminate attacks against people unconnected to the PSE who have mistakenly been taken to be users of the site.

“A lot of these incidents are going unreported because the people who are being victimised choose not to report them. This is of great concern to the police, who are actively trying to tackle the issue of hate crime, and to local residents who believe the crime being committed against people using the lay-by may escalate.

“In an attempt to deal with this sensitive issue the police have been working in partnership with other agencies with a view to balancing the interests of the people who use the PSE, together with the general public, including local residents, landowners and general road users.” Explained PC Spittlles.

Public concerns have been raised with the police, the local authority, Government agencies, the local MP and environmental agencies and charities. These include quality of life issues associated with members of the public encountering people involved in sexual activity, litter being left behind by the users of the PSE, trespassers on private property adjoining the lay-by and damage to a Site of Special Scientific Interest which, is under the care of English Nature and which backs on to one of the lay-bys.

While these issues do not come within the jurisdiction of the police to resolve, the public have nevertheless raised them as areas for concern with the police and other agencies.

In order to tackle the situation at the two locations over the past two years the police have taken a number of steps to improve the safety for those using the lay-bys and to address the concerns of local residents.

These have included: High visibility police patrols in the area to deter the perpetrators of the hate crime and also to reduce the area from being used as a PSE.

The distribution of leaflets through partner agencies such, as the Terrence Higgins Trust to raise awareness to the need for hate crime to be reported.

Posters have been displayed at the lay-bys giving information on how hate crime can be reported anonymously to the police.

Police have worked closely with groups such as the Terrence Higgins Trust, which has included accompanying outreach workers to the lay-by to develop links and build trust between the police and the users of the lay-by.

A Homophobic Attack Hotline was set up for victims of crime to be able to report incidents anonymously

Despite these actions there is still evidence that hate crime carried out in the lay-bys is still going unreported and that the site is still being used for sexual activity.

“In the interests of all people using the lay-bys on the A446 and the A452, together with the local community and other parties involved in the issue, the police believe the only safe option now is closure of the lay-bys to prevent further hate crime being committed. The police have consulted with the Highways Agency and are pleased that they will shortly be advertising an Order to close the lay-bys.” Explained PC Spittles.

For Information:

Notices of intended closure of the lay-bys by the Highways Agency will be published in newspapers, Council offices and displayed in the lay-bys on the A446 and the A452 from July 16, 2004. Members of the public wishing to object to the proposed closures will have until August 6, 2004.