SPITTING, urinating or defecating in public is to be punishable by a £75 on-the-spot fine.

Brighton and Hove City Council is planning to expand it’s fining scheme which is currently reserved for litter-bugs, graffiti and dog mess.

But now human defecation, spitting and urinating could be punished too, if the new fines for “extreme antisocial behaviour” are approved next week.

The move comes after a rise in complaints to the council about these types of deeply offensive activities.

Cllr Anne Pissaridou, the new chairwoman of the council’s environment, transport and sustainability committee, said: “Spitting, urinating and defecating are regarded by a vast majority of people as antisocial habits and can have a number of dangerous health implications.

“With a rise in these activities coupled with a surge in the number of complaints we receive, we want to make it clear that this behaviour will not be tolerated.”

At present, the council’s environmental enforcement officers only issue Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) fines to individuals for, littering, flytipping, fly-posting, graffiti, dog mess and the uncontrolled distribution of leaflets.

The fines are given out, by law, in a bid to keep the city’s streets, parks and open spaces clean and tidy.

The proposed fines for spitting, urinating and defecating will be issued under Section 87 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

This comes after the council dropped the controversial contractor 3GS and brought the fining team in-house.

Since then the team has issued more than 240 fines, mainly to individuals for littering and businesses for illegally dumping waste.

Cllr Pissaridou added: “It’s necessary to take this enforcement action as these types of antisocial behaviour affect us all.

“They have a harmful effect on the city and add to the already huge amount of cleaning, collection and disposal of rubbish and waste.

“With almost 300,000 residents and more than 11 million visitors a year, keeping the city clean will never be an easy task.

“But I promise that in my new role I will do everything I can to make it happen.”

The environmental enforcement service is funded by income raised from the FPNs.

Any extra money from collecting fines is reinvested into improving rubbish and recycling services.

Under government guidelines, the council isn’t allowed to use enforcement as a way of making money.