IN May, Nigel Burton , editor of our sister paper The Bradford Telegraph & Argus, said a PSPO that came into effect 12 months earlier had “worked out rather well” and given the city council a “useful method to help keep our streets clean and safe”.

A similar result in Bolton would no doubt be welcomed by Dawn Massey, from Deane.

She says she “doesn’t’ feel as safe” in the town centre since being mugged for her phone near the Fred Dibnah statue last December.

And Ms Massey adds she has noticed an increase in the number of beggars in the town, but is unsure whether they are all genuine cases.

She said: “It’s a bit of a funny one, if they need money to eat I don’t mind, but I don’t know if they’re genuine or not.

“When I finish work at 6pm at night they are absolutely everywhere, I get stopped by about six people.

"It’s awkward, I don’t mind helping people, but I can’t give money to everyone.

“Last week I was in McDonald’s and had people asking for money upstairs in the restaurant.

"You are trying to eat your food, but end up feeling guilty.”

Her sister, Natasha Massey, said she didn’t feel safe in the town centre at night, and found safety in numbers.

She said: “I feel better with friends. We play Pokemon so are out quite a lot with our phones, I don’t do it as much unless I’m in a bigger group.”