£100 fines for begging, spitting or riding quad bikes on public land as council crackdown on anti-social behaviour

The new restrictions will come into force at the beginning of May as part of the city’s newly updated Public Space(s) Protection order.

It comes off the back of an extensive public consultation which Sunderland City Council ran earlier this year in response to residents’ calls for more enforcement action.

The consultation faced a backlash over rules surrounding dogs on the city’s beaches, however Sunderland City Council have since confirmed that they will remain the same.

Harsher punishments will be introduced for anyone breaching the measures, which are in force from Saturday, May 1, with face fixed penalty fines of £100 – a £25 rise on the current fine of £75.

Fiona Brown, the Executive Director of Neighbourhoods for Sunderland City Council, believes the new measures will allow authorities to “get tough” on anti-social behaviour.

She said: "We know from our Let's Talk consultation that the environment is a top priority for our residents and that they want to see more enforcement action.

"So these new measures are very much aimed at addressing the concerns residents told us were affecting their quality of life and getting tough on the kind of anti-social behaviour that has a real impact on our communities."

The key changes to the Public Space(s) Protection order from May 1 are:

*A ban on spitting or discarding chewing gum in open public spaces.

*A ban on motorcycles or quad bikes being ridden in any open public space.

*The requirement for anyone in charge of a dog to be able to produce a dog bag or other appropriate receptacle to clean up after it.

*A ban on skateboards, scooters, bicycles or self-propelled vehicles to be used in a way that would cause damage to property or annoyance to other people in the area.

*A restriction on unauthorised events being held on adopted highways.

*A ban on loitering/begging on the highway or in any pedestrian area for money or otherwise.

*A ban on public urination or defecation in anywhere other than a public toilet.

*Prevention of bin raking (i.e. searching and/or taking items from rubbish bins or bags).

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