Breaching Public Space Protection Orders proves costly

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Eight people have been prosecuted by North Somerset Council for breaching Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs). 

Seven were for dropping litter, namely a cigarette butt, and one was for having a dog in a dog exclusion zone, namely on Weston-super-Mare's main beach during the summer when dogs are banned.

Each person had been given a fixed penalty notice for £75 but failed to pay.

The cases were heard at North Somerset Magistrates Court on Friday 26 November. None of the offenders attended court.

Benjamin Marsh of Westbury Crescent, Weston and David Timmons of Broad Meadow Lane, Birmingham pleaded guilty in absence to littering and the Magistrates ordered them each to pay a fine with victim surcharge and costs totalling £330. 

Emma Johnson of Barley Cross, Wick St Lawrence, Mihai Vezeteu of Orchard Street, Weston, Neacsu Constantin Ionut of Jubilee Road, Weston, Ben Coburn of Argyll Road, Bournemouth, Kimberly Thorne of Milton Road, Taunton (all littering) and Georgina Lees of Horsham Road, Swindon (having a dog in a dog exclusion zone) had not entered pleas. In their absence they were found guilty by the Magistrates and each offender was ordered to pay a fine with victim surcharge and costs totalling £404.

Local Authority Support officers patrol North Somerset and issue on-the-spot fixed penalty notices of £75 when they witness anyone breaching a PSPO. These offences include littering, dog fouling, having a dog in an exclusion zone, having a dog off its lead in areas that require dogs to be kept on leads and not being able to show an officer you have a means to pick up after your dog.

Dropped cigarette butts are the most common form of littering with 39 per cent of smokers admitting to throwing a cigarette down the drain within the past month. Cigarette butts get washed out to sea when dropped, blown or washed down the drain and contain micro plastics and harmful chemicals, such as arsenic and lead, which can be toxic to marine life.

Cllr Mike Solomon, North Somerset Council's executive member for neighbourhoods and community services, welcomed the successful prosecutions.

He said: "We are determined to clean up our local area and robust enforcement of the PSPOs is a key part of the action we are taking. The public should be aware that if they are seen breaching a PSPO they will be fined and those who don’t pay will be prosecuted.

"Unfortunately, to many, dropping a cigarette butt is still seen as socially acceptable and we are trying to change this behaviour. We hope our partnership with Local Authority Support and enforcement of the PSPOs will lead to a reduction of overall offending."

These latest prosecutions have come at a time when the council is cracking down on irresponsible dog owners who don't pick up after their dogs and can't show they have a means to pick up after their dog. Enforcement officers will be increasing patrols in known hotspot areas and issuing on-the-spot fines for any offending witnessed.

More information on the PSPOs can be found at www.n-somerset.gov.uk/pspo.