The unmistakable stench of urine on the streets is always a reminder that it's the morning after a big night out. Passers-by have the fun of stepping over puddles, while locals face the fragrant aroma of wee until it's cleaned up.
Just before Christmas Hackney council took action. They chose two locations in Dalston and Shoreditch that are popular with urinating offenders, and painted a special coating on the walls that made the pee splash back onto the wrongdoer. This effectively soaked them in their own pee.
At the moment Hackney council spends around £100,000 a year washing away urine, as well as issuing more and more fines. If rolled out this could stop people (by which we mean men, mostly) peeing indiscriminately in public - or if they did, it would lead to a lot of embarrassment on the night bus home.
Do you think splash-back walls are a good alternative to giving out fines? Or would you rather see more public toilets installed? Leave us a comment on Twitter, Google+ or Facebook.
