Drunken revellers who decide to use Leicester city centre pavements and shop doorways as a toilet are from Saturday being handed a bucket and mop to clean up their mess.

Police consulted with residents in the Hinckley Road local policing unit area and it was noted that several people had witnessed urinating in the area of Braunstone Gate, Narborough Road and the side streets. Business owners have also reported they often have to clean up such mess from their doorways.

Leicestershire Constabulary and Leicester City Council have joined forces to run the mop and bucket scheme, which also ties in with the current Alcohol Misuse and Enforcement Campaign (AMEC) being run across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.

PC Adrian Webb has organised the initiative. He said: “This kind of behaviour is anti-social and we will not tolerate it. This offence has a negative impact on the community who live there as well as people trying to run businesses in the area. This is why we have approached the problem and are now working in partnership with the council to improve the area as well as make the area attractive for people to come and enjoy the local night time economy,”

Anyone found urinating in the street will be asked to clean up their mess with a mop and bucket and if they refuse they could face being issued a fixed penalty notice.

All police Forces in England and Wales have signed up to the AMEC campaign which will see Forces tackle alcohol related violence by using powers under the Licensing Act 2003 to close premises acting irresponsibly, issuing fixed penalty notices, using -*test*-('") purchase activity to target underage sales and carrying out joint enforcement action against problem retailers and premises.