Signed off by Peterborough City Council in July, the PSPO was implemented by Cambridgeshire Constabulary the same month at Pleasure Fair Meadow Car Park, which had become a hotspot for unauthorised car meets and car cruising events.

The car park is located near numerous residential buildings, with those living nearby previously impacted by persistent noise, smoke and odours as well as littering when the events took place.

An order is in place for three years at the car park that includes conditions which anyone caught breaching can face fines of up to £1,000 or Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs).

In August, police confirmed that they had issued 13 fixed penalty notices, delivered two warnings and seized one vehicle since the PSPO was put in place.

Three months later, police say the issues have dropped completely.

“We’ve issued no further tickets since the last update and there’s been a dramatic reduction in issues at the car park and our officers will continue to monitor the situation and act robustly to any breaches of the order,” a spokesperson for the force said.

They also said that a survey with local residents had provided some “very positive” feedback.

Councillor Zameer Ali, cabinet member for communities, poverty and public health at Peterborough City Council said: “I’m pleased to say that since the PSPO has been introduced we have not received many call outs for service, which demonstrates that the scheme is having a positive effect.

“However, we will continue to monitor the area. We would also remind people that if you see someone breaching the PSPO conditions, you can report it to the Safer Communities Service by calling 01733 747474.”

Leader of the Liberal Democrat group, Cllr Christian Hogg, represents the Fletton and Stanground ward where the car park is located.

He was part of a task and finish group set up in late 2020 which examined issues relating to car cruising in Peterborough and recommended a PSPO be implemented at Pleasure Fair Meadow.

Cllr Hogg, who is also the cabinet member for housing and regulatory services, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “I’ve not had any complaints from residents since [the PSPO] went in. I think it has been a great success.

“I will caveat that a little bit in the fact that during this time of year it has quietened down in previous years because of the weather. For me, the litmus test is going to be in the spring to make sure we don’t then get an upsurge again in meets.

“It’s been great to see the cross working between the council and the police. It’s just unfortunate that it took so long to get it in place. That would be my biggest frustration I suppose.”

Cllr Hogg has called for a city-wide injunction to be put in place in order to tackle the problem across Peterborough.

A public spaces protection order (PSPO) at a Peterborough car park led to a significant reduction in issues, police said.