New orders aim to curb town centre troubles
BBCUrinating and defecating in the street and nuisance e-scooters are among anti-social behaviour that face being banned in parts of Teesside.
A Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) has been in place for Stockton and Norton since 2023 but is due to expire in April.
Stockton Borough Council is proposing new, separate orders for the areas, which would extend the list of prohibited actions.
The existing powers, which can lead to fines, cover street drinking and aggressive begging, and have been used more than 600 times, the authority said.
Subject to approval, the new order for Stockton would run until April 2029 and include a ban on urinating and defecating in the street in the restricted area "without reasonable excuse for doing so".
There would also be requirements to put dogs on leads, except when an animal is exercising in Trinity Gardens, and to pick up dog poo.
Motorhomes could also be forced to move if it is believed they are being used for overnight stays, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
'Strong feelings'
The proposed orders for both Stockton and Norton would continue to ban on-street drinking and begging, while also prohibiting mopeds, quad bikes, off-road bikes and e-scooters being ridden in a manner "likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress".
Council officers and police would enforce the orders, with anyone breaking the drinking ban facing a £100 fixed penalty notice or prosecution and a fine of up to £500 on conviction by magistrates.
A conviction for breaching other parts of the orders could lead to a fine up to £1,000.
Labour's Norma Stephenson, cabinet member for access, communities and community safety, said the current measures had "worked well" alongside steps such as shops in Stockton town centre stopping selling lager, beer and cider with an alcohol content above 6.5%.
She added: "With 2026 set to see the completion of Stockton Urban Waterfront Park we know people have strong feelings about the future of the High Street and safety and we want to listen to what people think and feel."
People are being invited to give their views as part of an online consultation running until 9 January.
