Six people have been hit with fines in recent weeks for breaching a public spaces protection order in Southend.

There is currently a public spaces protection order (PSPO) enforced in Southend, covering the city centre, seafront, Southchurch Hall Gardens, Hamlet Court Road, York Road and the Queensway estate, which was introduced in 2019.

Under Southend Council's "restricted area", anyone caught urinating, defecating, spitting, begging, drinking alcohol, taking drugs, setting up tents or littering in public, as well as cycling and using electric scooters in areas meant for walking, can be hit with a fine.

The following people have been handed fines at magistrates' courts for breaching the PSPO in recent weeks.

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A MAN who was caught urinating in the street in Southend has been hit with a fine.

Stacey Rush, 42, failed to comply with a public spaces protection order after he was found to have urinated in the alleyway York Superstore and Vera House in York Road on September 28 last year.

Rush, of York Road, admitted the offence and was fined £120 at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court.

He was also ordered to pay a surcharge to fund victim services of £48 and prosecution costs of £165.

A street drinker who refused to hand over his alcohol after being caught in Southend city centre has been fined.

Luke Ferriggi, of no fixed address, failed to surrender a container which an officer reasonably believed to be alcohol - in breach of a public spaces protection order - near Metro Bank on December 21 last year.

The offence was proved in his absence at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, August 29. The 39-year-old was fined £180, ordered to pay a surcharge to fund victim services of £72 and prosecution costs of £165.

A man who refused to stop begging outside a supermarket in Southend city centre has been fined.

Alan Strickland, of York Road, Southend, failed to cease begging and move on when asked by an authorised officer outside the Sainsbury’s store in London Road on November 18 last year.

The offence was proved in his absence at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court last Thursday.

The 37-year-old has now been fined £180, ordered to pay a surcharge to fund victim services of £72 and prosecution costs of £165.

A WOMAN who failed to stop begging outside of a bank in Southend city centre has been fined.

Ami Almond, 45, failed to stop begging and move on when asked by an authorised officer outside HSBC in London Road - covered by a public spaces protection order - on October 29 last year, Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court heard.

The offence was proved in her absence on Thursday, August 29, and she was fined £180.
Almond, of Southchurch Avenue, Southend, was also ordered to pay a surcharge to fund victim services of £72 and prosecution costs of £165.

A MAN who failed to stop begging in Southend High Street on two separate occasions has been fined.

Kelly Bennett, of no fixed address, breached the public spaces protection order when he failed to stop begging outside Gap Personnel and move on when asked on October 24 and November 17.

The offences were proved in his absence at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, August 29.

The 46-year-old was ordered to pay a £180 fine, a surcharge to fund victim services of £72 as well as prosecution costs of £185.

ANOTHER man who failed to stop begging and move on on two separate occasions has been fined.

Matthew Shaw, of no fixed address, breached the public spaces protection order when he was found begging outside Sainsbury's in London Road and did not move on when asked on November 24 and November 26 last year.

Both offences were proved in his absence at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court on Thursday, August 29, and Shaw was fined £180.

He must also pay a surcharge to fund victim services of £72 and prosecution costs of £185.