Southampton woman Clare Munn banned from begging in Hampshire

Clare Munn, of Ellwood Avenue, Southampton, has been given a three year Criminal Behaviour Order.

The 45-year-old is not allowed to beg anywhere within Hampshire in that time period.

This comes after an incident on July 29, where she had stepped out in front of a car along Shirley High Street while trying to flag vehicles down for money.

The driver swerved to avoid her and almost collided with another vehicle.

Shirley High Street, Southampton

When she continued to try to flag cars down from the pavement, police officer asked her to go home but she was later arrested.

While being put in the back of the police van, she spat at one of the officers.

In November 2021, at Southampton Magistrates’ Court, Munn was ordered to pay £100 in compensation for common assault of an emergency worker and was given a community order for wilful obstruction of a highway, begging in a public place and failing to comply with a Community Protection Notice.

Now, following a hearing at the same court this month, she has been handed a CBO.

PCSO Jack Kemp said: “Despite the support she is receiving, Munn has continued to beg and negatively impact the community with her behaviour.

“We believe this order is not only in the community’s best interests but hers too.

“This result sends a message to local residents and business owners that we do not take antisocial behaviour lightly and will use every option available to us to make Southampton a nicer place to visit, live and work in.

“I’d also like to encourage people to report begging to us. These reports help us build an intelligence picture which help us apply for criminal behaviour orders.”

The purpose of a Criminal Behaviour Order is to tackle the most serious and persistent offenders and stop them from committing further criminal offences and anti-social behaviour.

Breaching a Criminal Behaviour Order carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years.