Great Yarmouth men prosecuted and fined for breaching ban on street drinking in town centre
Three Great Yarmouth men have been fined and ordered to pay costs after breaching the town's ban on street drinking.
In a drive to make Great Yarmouth safer and more welcoming, the borough council last year introduced a range of tougher powers to tackle anti-social behaviour.
And, in a prosecution brought by the council, the trio were all convicted of breaching the anti-social behaviour public spaces protection order.
At the town's magistrates' court on May 15, Iulian Filip, 52, of Victoria Road, was fined £100 and ordered to pay a £40 victim surcharge and costs of £477. Carl Dighton, 50, of Nelson Road, was fined £200 and ordered to pay a £80 victim surcharge and costs of £477 for repeatedly ignoring the ban. Martin Lillis, 55, of Albert Square, was fined £200 and ordered to £80 victim surcharge and costs of £477 for repeatedly ignoring the ban.
The council introduced the public spaces protection order following a major public consultation in which residents said feeling safe and the cleanliness of the town centre were among their top priorities.
As a result, public drinking of alcohol, begging, urinating in public, spitting and riding bikes or e-scooters on paths have all been outlawed in parts of the town.
Councillor Paul Wells, Great Yarmouth Borough Council's portfolio holder for Environment and Sustainability, Licensing and Waste, said: ''These prosecutions demonstrate once again our determination to do all we can to deal more effectively with anti-social behaviour.
''Residents have made it clear they want action taken to deal with the small number of people who have a negative impact on the lives of others. We won't tolerate highly visible street drinking and people feeling intimidated.''
There are currently three PSPOs in the borough that enable the council, in partnership with the police, to deal with anti-social behaviour, vehicles and dog control.
You can find out more about what Great Yarmouth Borough Council is doing to tackle anti-social behaviour here: www.great-yarmouth.gov.uk/article/15111/What-is-the-Council-doing-about-anti-social-behaviour
