Few anti-social fines paid

Restrictions on drinking in public in parts of Scarborough are to be extended for three years.

Scarborough Council’s cabinet backed a request to renew the borough’s Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) and also to approve its use in Whitby.

The current PSPO is part of a range of measures used by North Yorkshire Police and the council to tackle antisocial behaviour, particularly disruptive behaviour caused by alcohol.

It has been in place since July 2017 and covers public spaces within a designated area of Scarborough, primarily within the centre and central part of the town, including the beach areas.

Within the PSPO area there are restrictions on consuming alcohol and consuming psychoactive substances (formerly known as legal highs), and it is an offence to urinate or defecate in a public place in the designated area.

Failure to comply with the terms of the PSPO can result in a fixed penalty notice and a fine of £100.

The cabinet heard that the PSPO area was used as a prevention tool with a relatively low number of fines issued over the last three years. In total 66 fixed penalty notices had been issued with 40 of those for urination or defecation in the area.

A further 24 were given to people who refused to stop consuming alcohol after being warned and just two were for the use of psychoactive substances.

However, as the cabinet member for stronger communities and housing Cllr Carl Maw admitted, not all fines are paid, with only 15 of the 66 issued being paid in full.

He said: “The PSPO acts a deterrent.”