Woman fined for drinking in restricted area

A 40 year old Kidderminster woman who was spotted drinking cider in a restricted part of the town centre, has been fined by the town’s magistrates.  

Joanne Roberts, of Cobham Road pleaded guilty on 9 February 2018 to failing to surrender a container of alcohol when requested to do so in breach of restrictions set out in a Public Spaces Protection Order. 

Nina Dorrell, prosecuting for Wyre Forest District Council told Kidderminster Magistrates how on 17 June 2017 Ms Roberts was seen drinking from a can of cider in Market Street by a police community support officer.

The officer explained she was drinking in a restricted area and asked her to hand over the can. Ms Roberts refused to comply with the request and was subsequently issued with a fixed penalty notice, which she failed to pay.

Ms Roberts was ordered to pay a £100 fine, together with a £30 victim surcharge. She was also ordered to contribute £74.62 towards the prosecution costs. 

Cabinet member for Operational Services Councillor Rebecca Vale said: “Restrictions on people drinking in the street are designed to keep our town centres, safe and looking good.

“When officers see restrictions being breached they will always try to explain the reasons for them and ask the person politely to comply and cooperate. In this case because she refused to hand over the can, a fixed penalty notice was issued. The matter only went to court because that notice was not paid.

“We owe it to every law-abiding resident and visitor to our town centre to take action when restrictions are being deliberately ignored. We want to work with local people and will only take matters further when there is no other way open to us.”