A 'protection order' which bans people from begging in Bolton town centre could be extended.
The order means that anyone caught asking for money within the confines of the high street could be handed a £100 fine.
But council bosses say that in the two years it has been in place they are yet to fine any genuine homeless people caught begging in the area.
But, they say, officers have punished a number of people pretending they have nowhere to live.
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Now the Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) is set to expire in early 2022 and Bolton council is asking for the public's view on what to do next.
As well as banning begging, the PSPO also threatens £100 fines for a number of behaviours deemed anti-social.
This includes street drinking, unlicensed leafleting and cycling in pedestrianised areas.
A total of 88 fixed penalty notices have been issued since the order began in 2019.
It covers the town centre and surrounding areas including the Market Place Shopping Centre, the retail park on Trinity Street, and up to Deane Road.
Deputy Council Leader, Coun Hilary Fairclough, said: “When the PSPO was first introduced, it had the backing from businesses who were concerned that a small minority were putting off shoppers and visitors from coming into the town centre.
“In the last three years we have used these extra powers to tackle the issues that matter most to Bolton residents including street drinking, drug use and begging.
“This council is committed to making the town centre more prosperous and vibrant and I hope the public will back our plans to extend these powers for another three years.”
The consultation is available online and will run until December 13, 2021.
A final proposal for the extended PSPO will take public feedback into account and will be considered before the end of the year.
