
Sheffield city centre begging and street drinking ban to begin
He said the new powers would "be used proportionately and progressively with the aim of preventing harm to individuals and the wider community".A report to Sheffield City Council last year suggested a PSPO was needed for the "continuous and unreasonable" anti-social behaviour in parts of the city centre.Just over two thirds of 1,205 individuals surveyed supported the introduction of the order, along with 67 out of 77 organisations.Kurtis Crossland, chair of the council leisure committee, said: "[The order] is about protecting people and stopping anti-social behaviour that might make anyone feel unsafe or insecure."Tim Renshaw, of the Archer Project, previously said the homeless charity was working with the council and police around the PSPO.He said: "We are working with them to say, 'how can we make it a support system rather than something just about enforced displacement?'"Is it an opportunity to build support, or is it just going to become something to stop people from seeing anti-social behaviour - we'll see."
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Men jailed over £1m Sheffield cannabis factory
Two men arrested when police raided a £1m cannabis farm have been found Mark Gjonaj, 28, and Kristian Zefi, 31, inside a commercial unit on Sussex Street, Sheffield, in March tending to more than 1,100 Yorkshire Police said the grow posed a "serious fire hazard" to neighbouring buildings as its electricity supply had been hooked up to an underground mains of no fixed abode, and Zefi, of Upminster Road, in Havering, London, were both jailed for 16 months each after they pleaded guilty to attempting to produce cannabis. Officers found two rooms full of cannabis plants and several others which seemed to have been converted for further production. PC Kevin Parker said: "This was an elaborate and sophisticated set-up being used to grow a significant amount of cannabis, and we know from past cases that productions like these are often set up to fund the activities of organised crime groups."The bypassing of electricity within the unit was also incredibly dangerous and we have since worked to eliminate that risk and protect members of the public from harm." Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North


Daily Mirror
7 hours ago
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Brits could be slapped with £100 fine for 'foul language' in these four towns
A council in the southeast has ruled to implement an order that could see fines handed out for 'foul' language in four popular seaside towns - in a bid to help residents feel safe Brits could face fines for up to £100 for using abusive language in four seaside towns in an attempt to crack down on anti-social behaviour. This week, plans have been approved for Thanet District Council in Kent to enforce a new public space protection order (PSPO) in Birchington, Margate, Ramsgate, and Broadstairs. Under the new rules, it will be an offence to refuse to stop using certain language if asked to do so by an officer. The language that is set to be restricted by the order is described as "foul or abusive language [used] in a manner likely to cause harassment, alarm, or distress to a person within hearing or sight, judged by the standards of a 'reasonable person'." The council originally tried to introduce the order in July of last year, but the plans never went ahead after it faced the threat of a legal challenge from The Free Speech Union, a campaign group. A spokesperson said: "The Proposed Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) was approved at a Cabinet meeting on Thursday 24 July 2025. The PSPO was put forward with the aim of reducing antisocial behaviour in Thanet's main towns, and is similar to previous PSPOs in place between 2018 and 2024. "They mirror the same restrictions in place across many other districts and boroughs, including in other parts of Kent in line with powers under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.' They said that there was 'strong support' for the proposals in response to the public consultation. The order will also restrict gathering in anti-social groups, misusing public places, excreting bodily fluids, consuming alcohol, consuming legal psychoactive substances, and causing humiliation or degradation. In Birchington, Margate, Ramsgate, and Broadstairs, there will be signs put up explaining the rules of the order. If someone is found to be breaking the rules, they will be spoken to by enforcement officers - but if the behaviour continues, they could be slapped with a fine of up to £100. At a cabinet meeting on Thursday, councillors said that claims from the media that the order would be a blanket ban on swearing were 'a mountain of nonsense'. Heather Keen, the Labour councillor, said these claims were "disingenuous, inaccurate and designed to grab attention". She confirmed that the order did not apply to 'casual swearing', the BBC reported. Commenting on the order's approval, Keen said: "We've listened and these measures are designed to reassure residents and set clear expectations around acceptable public behaviour in Thanet.' She explained that the order will provide authorities with 'the tools to intervene earlier which we hope will successfully prevent situations from escalating'. Keen added: "The overwhelming support from local people, businesses and the police during the consultation process is evidence that these measures are welcomed. Every year our residents tell us feeling safe is a top priority.'