TOUGH new measures targeting aggressive beggars, people urinating, spitting or taking drugs are finally under way in Southend High Street.

Southend Council’s community safety team has started enforcing the controversial Public Spaces Protection Order, giving them to powers to hand out fines of up to £100 to anyone found to violating rules.

Those rules include not taking drugs, spitting, urinating or littering, as well as collecting for charity or subscriptions without council authorisation.

The enforcement zone includes central Southend and the seafront between Thorpe Bay and Westcliff, as well as Southchurch Hall Gardens, Hamlet Court Road and York Road.

Controversially, it also includes a ban on begging, sleeping in a public space considered “detrimental” to the public and putting up tents.

This aspect of the order prompted human rights group Liberty to write to the council to urge them to abandon the plan.

Independent councillor Martin Terry, who oversees public protection at Southend Council, has called it an “extra enforcement tool to tackle antisocial behaviour”.

The council stressed the move will not criminalise the homeless. Mr Terry, Independent councillor for Thorpe ward, said: “Government cuts to police have had an impact on the borough and meant that we have had to introduce measures to tackle the growing unease people felt within the High Street area.

“The order is an additional means with which to tackle persistent antisocial behaviour, such as drinking alcohol and aggressive begging, in some of the busiest areas of our town.”

Responding to concerns over use of the order, Mr Terry stressed: “Let’s be clear – the order will not be used to target vulnerable people, such as homeless or rough sleepers, who are in genuine in need of help and support from our partnerservices.

“It is to tackle repeat offenders whose persistent antisocial behaviour impacts negatively on other people who are visiting or living in our town.

“It’s about the behaviour and although the order is not going to solve all the challenges we face, it is another tool we can use as one of the last measures taken after all other attempts of assistance have been exhausted.”