Irish agriculture and science students at a British university are working on redesigning car-parks and open spaces to make them less appealing to people who want to have sex in public. Seán MacConnell, Agriculture Correspondent, reports.
Dr Richard Byrne is leading a team at the Harper Adams University, which is attempting to come to grips with what is a growing problem in the countryside. The team is devising plans to defeat the anti-social behaviour in what are being called Public Sex Environments (PSEs).
"Among the many types of anti-social behaviour there is a rapidly growing problem of rural sites, such as country parks, scenic areas and heritage sites, being used as public sex environments," said the Shropshire university's annual review. "PSEs are generally considered an urban issue. However, survey work undertaken by Harper Adams University College (HAUC) has indicated they are a widespread and increasing problem in English country parks.
"PSEs are areas where numerous individuals congregate to engage in sexual acts. The general outcome of a site becoming used in this way is a decline in its public perceived value as a recreational, educational and conservation resource," said the report.
It said there was also the impact on staff health and safety and welfare as well as legal implications, as many of the sites were being used for prostitution and other illegal activities relating to the sex trade.
"Working with countryside managers and representatives from the police tasked with PSE issues, the work undertaken at HAUC is aimed at creating a knowledge base for those involved in countryside management, enabling them to deal with PSE issues."