Two men fined for drinking alcohol in the street in Shirebrook

The men were initially given fixed penalty tickets by the police for breaching a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) which covers the Shirebrook and Langwith area, but failed to pay the £100 fine.

During June, magistrates in Chesterfield held hearings to deal with the two men who failed to pay the penalty.

Piotr Murzyn, 20, of Byron Street, Mansfield and Graham Bletcher, 59, of Mayflower Court, Shirebrook did not attend the hearings which continued in their absence. They were both fined £220 and ordered to pay costs of £200, plus a victim surcharge of £22.

Derbyshire police and Bolsover District Council brought in the PSPO on Wednesday, November 4 2015 to help them target concerns about anti-social behaviour.

Under the order, which lasts for three years, people are banned from drinking alcohol and having an open container of alcohol in a public space, among other restrictions.

Sixty fixed penalty tickets for breaching the restrictions have been issued by the police since the order was brought in, and those who do not pay the penalty for street drinking are brought to court.

Sergeant Mark Church of the Shirebrook Safer Neighbourhood Policing Team said: “The introduction of the Public Spaces Protection Order has resulted in a dramatic fall in the number of people drinking in the street in Shirebrook since the summer of 2015, and gives officers the power to issue on the spot fines for street drinking.

“This reduction in reports of street drinking has made the town a safer and more pleasant place to live. My team will be continuing to issue fixed penalty notices to the few people who choose to flaunt the law and this decision by the court further enforces the commitment to reduce anti-social behaviour in the community.”

Bolsover District Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Cohesion, Councillor Karl Reid said, “The PSPO in Shirebrook and Langwith Junction is working well and it is pleasing to see that the courts have backed our use of the PSPO with these prosecutions.

“When we consulted to bring in this order, it was clear the public supported the need to tackle the problems of anti-social behaviour, drinking in the town centre and littering and together with our partners we are working hard to ensure this happens and we see a positive impact in the area.”

Further details about the order, and a map of the area covered by the PSPO, can be found on the Bolsover District Council website: www.bolsover.gov.uk.

To contact the Shirebrook Safer Neighbourhood policing team call 101, the non-emergency number for Derbyshire police or email [email protected].