Bylaw set to bring high penalty for town's binge-drinking yobs

Urinating in public could cost offenders hundreds of pounds under a new ban which has been welcomed by police and Selby Council bosses.

Community officers say they are determined to rid the town centre area of tearaways who cause a nuisance to residents and traders alike.

They have requested councillors to give them every means possible to do this, including the new bylaw, to underline the zero tolerance approach to troublemakers.

A meeting of the council has agreed to plans to introduce the bylaw to punish anyone found urinating in public places with a fine of up to 500.

Council leader Mark Crane said yesterday: "Introducing this bylaw would help the police deal with anti-social behaviour on our streets and also ensure the district is kept clean.

"This supports two of the council's long-term aims which are to keep communities safe and to protect the local environment."

"Selby District Council is committed to tackling anti-social behaviour and working closely with the police to ensure they have all the tools they need to deal with this issue," he added.

The bylaw will now be advertised, as is legally required, before it goes to the Department for Communities and Local Government for confirmation, and the date will be fixed that it comes into force.

Insp Chris Witty, in charge of policing in the Selby town area, added: "North Yorkshire Police requested that the council consider making this bylaw and we are pleased to see that it is one step closer to coming into effect.

"We are committed to dealing with anti-social behaviour in all its forms and we are proactively working to ensure that we have all the weapons we need at our disposal to do this. Our message is clear – if you engage in anti-social behaviour there will be consequences."

The move will bring Selby into line with neighbouring areas such as the East Riding of Yorkshire and Wakefield Metropolitan District Council, which already have the bylaw in place.