Ban on city centre begging and drinking to begin

A ban on city centre street drinking, begging and other anti-social behaviour in Sheffield is set to begin.

The public space protection order (PSPO), which was approved by the council last year, comes into force on Monday.

Under the rules, those caught indulging in certain activities in a defined area, such as urinating in the street, drug use and loitering, could be fined up to £100.

Supt Paul Ferguson, from South Yorkshire Police, said existing legislation meant issues in the city could not be challenged "robustly".

He said the new powers would "be used proportionately and progressively with the aim of preventing harm to individuals and the wider community".

A report to Sheffield City Council last year suggested a PSPO was needed for the "continuous and unreasonable" anti-social behaviour in parts of the city centre.

Just over two thirds of 1,205 individuals surveyed supported the introduction of the order, along with 67 out of 77 organisations.

Kurtis Crossland, chair of the council leisure committee, said: "[The order] is about protecting people and stopping anti-social behaviour that might make anyone feel unsafe or insecure."

Tim Renshaw, of the Archer Project, previously said the homeless charity was working with the council and police around the PSPO.

He said: "We are working with them to say, 'how can we make it a support system rather than something just about enforced displacement?'

"Is it an opportunity to build support, or is it just going to become something to stop people from seeing anti-social behaviour - we'll see."

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