Orders to curb drinking and aggressive begging have been described as a first step to making two town centres safer and more welcoming.

Leaders at Stockton Council approved the three-year public space protection orders (PSPOs) for Stockton and Norton town centres. Fixed penalties of £100 could be imposed by police or council officers on people who do not comply with the order, which targets drinking and aggressive begging.

Marc Stephenson, Stockton Council’s community safety assistant director, said high fear of crime was still stopping people coming into the two centres, with aggressive begging and alcohol-related anti-social behaviour still major areas of concern. He said: “We do feel the time is now to implement the additional powers we have as an authority to protect the wider public at large.

“We do have some challenges, certainly in relation to Stockton town centre and Norton village, and certainly in relation to alcohol-related disorder and aggressive begging. Here in Stockton we’ve always had a measured approach. We’ve always considered a PSPO to be a last resort.

“We aren’t talking about passive begging in doorsteps or in shop doorways. We are talking about aggressive begging, people who set out to exploit the vulnerable for money.”

He said they were at a crossroads between the rights of vulnerable people and their wider duty to the public, which strongly supported the order saying it would make them feel safer.

He said a PSPO would be a very effective tool if targeted and used proportionately. “But they aren’t the be-all and end-all and they will be an additional measure which our officers can use to address community safety concerns."

He stressed the PSPO would not stop services for people with complex needs. “In fact it will galvanise that work,” he added.

Councillor Norma Stephenson, cabinet member for community safety, said the aim was to protect residents, businesses and visitors: “It’s also focusing on helping individuals who have found themselves in a position probably most of them don’t want to be in.

“I wouldn’t want anybody to think Stockton Borough Council’s a den of iniquity because it isn’t. And this is just one step to actually making it more welcoming and a little bit safer.

“There is more to come. This is the first step, I think.”

She said they would use persuasion, advice and warning before penalty notices are issued. “But to bear in mind this could happen in five minutes.”

Cllr Nigel Cooke, cabinet member for regeneration, said: “I know that there’s many people who don’t feel safe so I think these measures are needed. In Stockton especially we’ve got a large number of people who are causing some issues.

“This authority has invested heavily in Stockton town centre and in Norton and we need to protect that asset. Footfall’s actually very good in Stockton and Norton, but if fear become a threat to that, that could impact greatly on businesses.”

Cllr Steve Nelson, cabinet member for health, leisure and culture and a Norton North ward member, said: “At the end of the day the people have spoken and said these are issues that concern them.

“I think it’s good we’ve kept them to two main issues. It’s a good piece of work.”

Fellow Norton North Cllr Lisa Evans, cabinet member for children and young people and deputy council leader, said: “I think as a local authority we’ve always had the balance right… being inclusive, supportive, providing education and training, trying to prevent people from being in these situations.

“These people have a really complex, chaotic lifestyle and issuing them with a £100 fine will not resolve that. So keeping our approach, I’m more than happy to support this because I know our officers and others around the table will continue to do that.”

Council leader Cllr Bob Cook said they wanted businesses like restaurants and pubs to thrive. “We’re trying to increase the night-time economy along with the day-time economy, to welcome people into the town centre," he said.

“We’ve gone slowly. We’ve consulted quite extensively. I think this will work for us, and help some of the people causing the issues. We need to get them on a different road to recovery.”

The order will move on to the legal stage. It is expected to come into force on April 3.