Thirty-one people will be feeling embarrassed and significantly poorer this week after being convicted and fined for urinating in a York street. It is quite right that they have been named, shamed and forced to pay a proper price for such unpleasant behaviour.

Until recently, offenders only had to pay a wee fine: £2. That was a pitifully small penalty for the very few who were ever caught.

Thanks to a York police crackdown, those who use the pavement as the ultimate public convenience now run a risk of arrest. And the courts have proper powers to deal with them: many of those convicted this week were fined £150 plus costs.

This should act as a long overdue deterrent. For years, traders and residents in the 'Micklegate Run' area have had to clean up the disgusting aftermath of drinkers' incontinence.

The thought of public humiliation and a large fine should help revellers regain their bladder control.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.