A TELEVISION comedian is one of more than a thousand people to sign a petition opposing tough new powers on begging in Southampton.

Mark Thomas is among 1,065 people to sign the petition against the Public Space Protection Orders that could be approved later today.

The Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) will be introduced in five areas of the city if plans are approved, and could see people failing to comply with the orders fined or arrested.

The orders will ban street-drinking and begging in the city centre, Portswood Broadway, Shirley High Street, Woolston High Street and Bitterne Precinct, and could see fines of up to £100 issued and arrests made if the rules are not complied with.

However both the police and council say they would only be used as a “last resort” and anyone begging or drinking will be warned before any action is taken.

But the move has been attacked by some, and a petition on the 38 Degrees website has now attracted 1,065 signatures, including radio and television comedian Mark Thomas, who is also a political activist.

The petition can be found at online at 38degrees.org.uk

Some are concerned that the PSPOs “allow for broad powers to criminalise behaviour that is not normally criminal (eg busking, swearing. chalking on the pavement, revving engines), or to sanction behaviour which is already covered by laws or byelaws.”

They are also concerned the powers could be expanded, adding: “It has been claimed that local authorities may vary the order by increasing or reducing the restricted area or altering the prohibitions or requirements (including adding new ones). The PSPO could relatively easily be amended to include other controversial restrictions.

“Southampton City Council has said it will not be using private security to implement PSPOs and with regard to begging, that PSPOs would only be used ‘as a last resort’ “Whose interpretation of ‘last resort’ is open to question, as are assurances that they will only be used in extreme circumstances.”

Labour housing boss Warwick Payne says support will be offered to genuinely homeless people and that the crackdown is aimed at “bogus beggars”.

The plans were reported in the Daily Echo last year as it was revealed that there had been an increase in “bogus begging” in the city, with some people in the city centre said to earn up to £200 a day.

Official figures have shown that genuine homelessness is also on the increase, rising from 39 to 59 from 2013 to 2014, while the Daily Echo recently reported that many are staying in the multi-storey car park near Bedford Place to avoid the wintry weather.

However both the police and council say they would only be used as a “last resort” and anyone begging or drinking will be warned before any action is taken.

Of the 827 people who responded to consultation on the plans, 73 per cent said they supported the move while 23 per cent opposed it.

Labour housing boss Warwick Payne said: “It’s very clear that almost three quarters of people who gave up their time to respond to the consultation said that the PSPO was required in Southampton, so for me that is a very strong indication about where the thoughts of people lie, in that this is something that should be brought in. The PSPO is aimed at anti-social and threatening begging and it is designed to be a crackdown on bogus beggars.”