ANGER AT BEGGARS’ £1K FINES
TOWN hall bosses have been branded “idiots” for threatening beggars with £1,000 fines.
Tunbridge Wells Council in Kent is considering bringing in £100 on-the-spot penalties.
These could rise to £1,000 if they are not paid immediately.
Locals say this is “ridiculous” as the homeless will “never be able to pay the fines”.
The authority looked into introducing Public Space Protection Orders after complaints from shopkeepers about people asking for money outside their stores.
But a petition against the proposals has already attracted 6,000 signatures.
Businesswoman Michele Harriman-Smith accused the council of being “heartless”.
She branded the plan a “useless exercise that punishes a vulnerable group of people”.
Graham Sanders, 41, added: “So you’re going to fine someone with limited resources £100, which it is very unlikely they will be able to pay.
“Then it will go up to £1,000 and obviously the person will then face jail if they can’t pay.”
A spokesman for the council said it was trying to help homeless people “engage with agencies who are in a position to help them”.
He added: “We quite understand that there is no point in fining someone who has no money.”