Police are to crack down on men urinating in the streets.

Already eight have been charged in Skipton under the 1972 Local Government Act, which makes it an offence to urinate in a public place.

The town's magistrates have fined the men between £50 and £75 after they were caught in the act and reported by police. The maximum fine is £500. The offence gets a high profile in the Skipton policing plan, which has just been published, and aims to reduce crime, anti-social behaviour and fear of crime in the district.

The clampdown has been welcomed by Skipton Tory councillor Marcia Turner (Skipton West) who said she was aware of the problem, especially in doorways and in the many alleyways off Skipton High Street.

She said: "It's about time people were reported for this disgusting act. Perhaps prosecution will act as a deterrent. It shouldn't be tolerated. People should have a pride in their town. This type of behaviour is an insult to everyone."

Skipton Police Inspector Chris Chelton said the problem arose particularly on Friday and Saturday nights when young men came out of the pubs and walked down the High Street to the only nightclub.

They were urinating on the street and in the ginnels along the High Street.

"It's not the behaviour we will tolerate. We are encouraging officers to report offenders, not simply to give them a warning," he said.

The clampdown is part of the new policing plan which is targeting anti-social behaviour and alcohol related offences.

One of the main objectives is to tackle drugs misuse through intelligence-led operations against local drug dealers.

They aim to increase the number of arrests for drugs and drug-related offences by ten per cent, he said..

Other objectives included arresting more shoplifters, focusing on youth disorder, motor theft and poaching.

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