Four people have been prosecuted for a range of offences after breaching various Public Space Protection Orders.
North East Lincolnshire Council introduced the PSPOs through the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act in 2014. As previously reported, the authority has recently introduced a number of measures to tackle issues in the town centre, including a monthly ‘day of action’, a tannoy system and enhanced CCTV.
Each PSPO order will specify an area where activities are taking place that are ‘detrimental to the quality of life of those in the area’ and can impose conditions and restrictions on people using their specified area. Breaking an order is a criminal offence, which can result in a fixed penalty notice (FPN) of £100 or prosecution. If prosecuted, an individual could be fined up to £1,000.
In recent weeks, a number of people have failed to pay their FPN, meaning their offences have been dealt with in court. They include four people from Grimsby who have been prosecuted for smoking and cycling offences.
One man attended court and pleaded guilty to a cycling offence. He was given a conditional discharge of six months and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £26 within 56 days.
Another also pleaded guilty to breaching cycling rules and was issued the same conditional discharge and victim surcharge cost.
A third man, who was also accused of cycling offences and a woman accused of smoking in a place where it is prohibited, did not attend court and were both ordered to pay a £220 fine, costs of £200 and a victim surcharge of £88.
In total, they were ordered to pay £508 within 28 days of the court ruling.
Speaking about the cases, Portfolio Holder for Safer and Stronger Communities, Councillor Ron Shepherd, said: “These PSPOs are there for a reason. Not because we want to put them in place or to cause a nuisance, but to ensure the safety of the borough.”These people have not followed the rules and for that they have been rightly punished. Others need to be made aware that we will not simply look the other way, those breaking these PSPOs will face repercussions.”
Reporter.
Part of the Gi Grimsby News team since 2021.