NEW get-tough powers are set to come into force to help crack down on the menace of boozing and begging in Clacton town centre.

Tendring Council has rubber- stamped a public spaces protection order to help rid the area of antisocial behaviour.

It will let accredited council staff and police deal with street drinkers who refuse to stop drinking alcohol.

Persistent beggars, people sitting in doorways and sleeping in public toilets, and anyone caught carrying out graffiti can also be targeted under the new powers.

Offenders can be hit by penalty notices of £100 – and if they fail to pay up. they will be prosecuted in court.

The new powers replace an old community order and cover a wider range of offences to help keep the town safer.

Council community safety boss Carlo Guglielmi said the new powers carried more “bite”.

He said: “What we are doing is picking up the issues that have been brought forward and it will not just deal with alcohol-related activity, but goes much wider.

“It will also cover a larger area and take in the promenade.

“The previous order lacked bite, but now £100 fixed penalty notices can be issued.

“The collaboration that already exists between the police and Tendring Council has produced some impressive results so far.

“This new order will once again complement the excellent work of our officers and police officers.”

Council officers, including seafront, parking and licensing teams, are now being trained to use the powers.

They will come into force tomorrow and stay in place for a year.

If it is successful, the scheme could be extended for another three years.

The powers cover 36 streets around Clacton town centre and seafront, as well as sites including car parks, public gardens, footpaths, picnic areas and playgrounds.

Within those designated areas, anyone caught persistently begging, sitting in shop doorways or loitering, remaining in a public toilet without a good excuse, or refusing to stop drinking or hand over containers of booze can be prosecuted.

Inspector Julia Finch, of Clacton police, welcomed the new powers.

She said: “I would ask people to be realistic and accept that we will not be in a position to enforce the order 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“It won’t solve things overnight, but we do expect it to have a considerable impact on these activities.”