A FORMER police officer now in charge of cracking down on antisocial behaviour has outlined how new powers could put a stop to city centre nuisance.
Oxford could become the second city in the UK to control behaviour in its centre under newly introduced council powers.
People are being asked whether a raft of antisocial behaviours should be subject to a £100 fine as part of a new Public Space Protection Order (PSPO).
If approved by councillors, fines could be dished out to beggars who are already getting benefit support, buskers who do not follow guidelines and dog owners who let their pets foul in public places.
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Daryl Edmunds, team leader of Oxford City Council’s antisocial behaviour team, said: “There were a number of behaviours that we agreed were an issue and needed to go to the public for consideration.
“We want to see if it is a behaviour that affected the public and if it is, whether they want us to do something about it.”
Mr Edmunds, a former police officer, said beggars would only be targeted if they are already getting benefit support and accommodation from the council.
Mr Edmunds added: “We will provide accommodation if you are homeless, but if you choose not to accept that, going to sleep in loos where the general public should have access is not acceptable.”
People who drink outdoors would also be fined if they cause antisocial behaviour because of it.
Feeding pigeons could be banned because of the damage the birds cause to public buildings.
Residents could also be banned from creating chalk drawings on pavements unless they put a canvas down first.
Council officers, police officers or city ambassadors would warn people first, and only if they carry on would they be given a £100 fixed penalty notice.
Failure to pay will result in them being taken to court where they could end up being fined £2,000.
But Mr Edmunds said the council will offer as much support as it can to potential offenders and will only punish them as a last resort.
Steven Trigg, 50, who sells the Big Issue and lives in vulnerable housing in Oxford, said: “It’s an absolute joke that so many people make so much money from begging when they’re lucky enough to have homes to go to at the end of the day. It makes me so angry that they can get away with it when there are people like me who actually don’t have their own home.
“I like the idea of fining these people because it’s just not fair as it is. Things have got to change.”
Barbara Harold, 77, from Abingdon, said: “There are far too many of them and the city centre is overrun with musicians, so if fining people would filter out those without a licence and get rid of some of them I think it’s a sensible move.”
But some residents felt the orders would be difficult to enforce.
Lincoln became the first city in the UK to adopt a PSPO when its council banned people using psychoactive substances, more commonly known as legal highs, in the city centre on February 24.
The Oxford consultation ends on March 31. The council’s cabinet will then decide whether to approve the measures.
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