BEGGARS could be fined £100 if councillors agree to crack down on people asking for money as a "lifestyle choice".

West Dorset District Council will meet on Tuesday to decide whether to ban begging in both Bridport and Dorchester town centres as part of its new Public Safety Protection Orders (PSPO) policy.

A report to the full council recommends that members agree to ban town centre begging, as well as feeding seagulls in West Bay and Lyme Regis and continue an order banning the consumption of alcohol in parts of Bridport.

In her report, Melissa Johnson, community safety officer at WDDC, said: "No individual or group will be able to make verbal, non-verbal or written requests for goods, money or donations, unless they are authorised at an appropriate location, e.g. authorised charity collections.

"The measures will be publicised and there will be an educational approach to begging and the intentional feeding of gulls in the first instance."

Cllr Alan Thacker, the district council’s portfolio holder for community safety and access, said: “Begging issues have been identified by the district council, town council and the police over the last few years and a decision was made to conduct a consultation. Findings from this consultation demonstrate that participants are supportive of the measure.

"While the draft PSPO restricts begging, written guidance will be provided to officers before the order is implemented as to what circumstances may lead to an fixed penalty notice being issued.

"We are looking to address aggressive begging where individuals persistently badger people for money which can be very disturbing to the public. Busking is unlikely to attract our attention. Someone sitting down on public land with belongings; blanket; dog etc. with an upturned cap looking for donations will be engaged with outreach workers in the first instance to try and get them off the streets but sometimes it is a lifestyle choice.”

Cllr Ros Kayes, who represents Bridport on the district council, has urged WDDC to show "compassion" and not criminalise beggars.

She said: "Bridport is not overwhelmed by beggars and I think this bylaw is potentially unnecessary.

"Many of these people are well known to local people in the town who stop and have a chat with them and sometimes buy them food.

"Homelessness should not be a crime. Many people end up on the streets through life crises. We are all just a couple of steps away from this kind of personal crisis: job loss, relationship breakdown, severe depression and the council needs to have some compassion."

She added: "Life is such a struggle on the streets and it's really, really hard for the homeless to get housed by the council which no longer has a legal obligation to house them itself.

"How can beggars possibly pay a fine? Move them on if they are creating a nuisance? Yes, but criminalise them? No. I would much rather that WDDC put it's efforts into a shelter for the homeless."