A POOLE reverend has urged councillors to be "compassionate" over plans to crack down on anti-social behaviour in the town centre.

Revd Lucy Holt wrote to Ian Cooke, safer communities manager for the Borough of Poole, over a scheme to enforce new Public Space Protection Orders (PSPO) in the area.

As reported in the Daily Echo, the orders could see a ban on begging, street drinking and drug usage in areas such as Poole High Street.

If approved. any offenders caught breaking the order would face a fine.

Revd Holt, rector of St James Church and rural dean of Poole and North Bournemouth, said she is concerned about how such an order might have a disproportionate impact on the town's most vulnerable, and in particular rough sleepers.

"People find themselves homeless and continue to be homeless for a huge variety and complicated set of reasons. Issues of mental health and addiction often play a part in this, along with domestic violence perpetrated by both men and women," she said.

"The homeless are incredibly vulnerable when they are out sleeping rough and are often victims of violence against them."

Churches in Poole have for many years worked together to support soup kitchens, as well as charity Routes to Roots. Revd Holt said any plans to move homeless people out of the area could impact their ability to access help.

"The provision of the proposed PSPO appears to put our most vulnerable members of our society at more risk and seems to show a lack of compassion in our community," she said.

"On Thursday, August 31, I attended a drop-in at Routes to Roots to canvas opinion from those rough sleepers who use this service.

"I was deeply troubled by their response.

"One individual said clearly to me that this proposal made him feel like a 'non person'."

And she said the order may result in the "criminalising" of those who need "serious and wide-ranging help".

"I would urge the Borough of Poole to be more compassionate in considering the implementation of this PSPO," she said.

PSPOs are used b councils across the UK to help reduce anti-social behaviour in public places. Two areas of Poole are already subject to a PSPO – Ashley Road and the surrounding area, and Alexandra Park - which were introduced in December 2014.

Borough of Poole is proposing to implement a new PSPO for Poole Town and Holes Bay, covering the town centre and Quay, as well as parts of Poole Park, Sterte and Tatnam.

Mr Cooke said: "Unfortunately, in the past few years incidents of anti-social behaviour have increased, particularly in Poole town centre.

"This behaviour requires an increasing amount of time and resources for Borough of Poole, Dorset Police and other partners, and we believe a PSPO is the best way to help us reduce these issues."

A consultation on the plans has now started. It will take place until Monday, October 16.