Evening and night-time patrols by a London council’s uniformed officers are issuing warnings and £120 fines for those caught publicly urinating on the streets. Camden Council says that in some areas it has applied anti-pee paint which is designed to cause the person’s urine to splash back at them.
Posters on streets around the borough state: “This is NOT a toilet!”, informing people that they are committing an offence and directing them to the nearest public toilet. Other posters will also be shared with local bars, clubs, and pubs to remind night-goers to use toilet facilities before they leave, instead of urinating on the streets.
Councillor Pat Callaghan, Cabinet Member for Safer Communities said: “Not only is this behaviour unpleasant and unsightly, but it also creates a hostile environment for others in the area. We will continue to work in partnership with the police to increase patrols in hotspot areas and ensure that anyone caught committing this offence is handed a fine.” And Councillor Adam Harrison, Cabinet Member for Planning and a Sustainable Camden said: “We want our borough to be a clean and welcoming place for everyone living, working, or visiting in Camden.”
On average, Camden says that it spends £100,000 a year washing pavements.
City PSPO
City of York Council meanwhile is proposing a Citywide Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) to cover dog fouling and human urinating on the street. A report to the council stated that it’s receiving from members of the public about 35 ‘Street Cleaning incidents’ a month.
