Grimsby men fined over £600 for breaking cycling rule in town centre

Two men from Grimsby have been fined a total of £645 for cycling in an area where it is prohibited.

Hearings were held at Grimsby Magistrates Court earlier this month where both men were found guilty and asked to pay the original fine along with several other costs.

These fines are handed out by enforcement officers to people who are not following certain Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs). These are restrictions in place across North East Lincolnshire to make the area a safer and more welcoming place for residents and visitors.

If those fines are not paid within a specified time frame then cases are progressed to court prosecutions, as is the case in this instance. Neither men appeared at court, but were convicted in their absence:

• David Evans, 30, of Crescent Street, Grimsby – wrote to the court indicating a guilty plea. Fine £100, victim surcharge £40, costs £200 – total £340
• Paul Thompson, 43, of Richard Street, Grimsby – Received a fine of £75, victim surcharge of £30, legal costs of £200 – total £305

“Whilst some suggest these measures are too harsh, there are clear examples of why these PSPOs are in place”, said Councillor Ron Shepherd, Portfolio Holder for Safer and Stronger Communities.

In May 2024, Susan Godfrey was scarred for life by a cyclist who was not abiding by the rules. Speaking about the PSPO after recovering from her injuries, Susan said: “I’m the living proof of why these PSPOs are in place. If that happened to a child or someone older, they could’ve been killed.

“I just hope people will think more about what they’re doing. My arm shows how important it is to not cycle down there, please, just do the right thing.”

Councillor Shepherd added: “We will continue to enforce these PSPOs alongside our Days of Action and ever improving CCTV system that has aided in a multitude of incidents across the town centre, all of which has paid in to reducing crime by 5% over the past two years.

“We will keep amending and renewing the PSPOs to reflect the changing challenges Anti-Social Behaviour presents across the borough.”