19 men fined for urinating in street (From York Press)

19 men fined for urinating in street

9:15am Saturday 4th February 2012 in News

MEN caught spending a penny in public in Selby have been ordered to pay almost £2,000 in fines.

Selby Magistrates ordered 19 men, aged between 18 and 45, to pay £1,925 in fines, after they were charged with urinating in public under a bylaw introduced in the district last year.

The bylaw was introduced after complaints from residents and businesses who had to clear up after Friday and Saturday night revellers, and gave night marshals the authority to take action against the anti-social behaviour.

Magistrates issued the men with fines, and ordered them to pay a total of £2,660 prosecution costs and £285 victim surcharges (£140 costs, £15 surcharge each).

Council leader Mark Crane said: “We’re certainly not against people having a good time, but there needs to be some responsibility too – we don’t expect others to have to deal with the aftermath of a mindless few.”

“The bylaw gives important powers to the police and Night Marshals to protect the local area. Following its successful implementation here in the Selby district, councils from other parts of the country are looking at whether they could put in place similar laws for their own areas.”

*Council-run public toilets are located in Park Street near the bus and rail station, in the Back Micklegate car park next to the Abbey Walk shopping complex ,and in the Abbey Leisure Centre in Scott Road.