Canterbury: Beggars who harass shoppers face fines

Beggars targeting shoppers could be given a fixed penalty notice of up to £100

Beggars who harass shoppers on the streets of Canterbury could face being fined.

The city council has decided to renew legal powers to target persistent beggars.

A public consultation has been carried out into the creation of a new Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) in the city centre.

A total of 91 respondents said they had been approached in an "aggressive" way, according to councillor Connie Nolan.

A previous PSPO, which was made under section 59 of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, expired in November 2023.

Ms Nolan, the city council's cabinet member for safety, said the PSPO was to prevent people being "harassed" by beggars.

"It's really important that we recognise that our residents were telling us they wanted [the PSPO] kept in place," she told BBC Radio Kent.

The new PSPO is being enforced in the city wards of Barton, Northgate, St Stephen's, Westgate, and Wincheap and will apply for three years.

People who break the order could be given a fixed penalty notice of up to £100.

The council's overview and scrutiny committee heard at its meeting on 25 January that the rough sleeper team is "proactive" in the city centre and working with the enforcement team to "help people access the support services needed".

Follow BBC South East on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [e-mail].