News Release
4 September 2008
Tackling street drinking – borough-wide order
From August 2008, the whole of Havant Borough became subject to
an alcohol control order, thanks to the work of the Safer Havant
Partnership. This order empowers the Police, Police Community
Support Officers (PCSOs) and Accredited Community Support Officers
(ASCOs) to remove alcohol from individuals involved in anti-social
behaviour.
Councillor Andy Lenaghan, Health and Wellbeing Porfolio Holder
with responsibility for Community Safety says, “The introduction of
a borough-wide order sends a clear message of Havant Borough
Council’s intent to listen to the communities concerns and promote
a sensible drinking culture within the Borough.”
This is just one of a raft of measures in place to reduce
alcohol related crime as anti-social drinking in the borough is of
a major and consistent public concern and the anti-social behaviour
that arises from it contributes to the fear of crime, as well as
creating areas that are no longer used by the general public.
A Drinking in Public Places Order is made by a local authority
under Section 13 of the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001. Under
Section 12 of the same act if an officer reasonably believes that a
person is, or has been consuming alcohol in a designated area, or
intends to do so they can require the person not to consume alcohol
and that they handover any alcohol or container for alcohol in
their possession. Failure to do so, without reasonable excuse is a
criminal offence and the maximum fine on conviction in the
Magistrates court is £500.
Chief Inspector Will Schofield of Havant Police says “Drinking
in public places is a major factor in anti-social behaviour,
criminal damage and nuisance and public place violent crime. It
also increases the fear of crime further deterioration of public
areas and acts as a catalyst for an increase in incidents of
alcohol and drug abuse and more serious crimes. This order will
provide the necessary powers to enable my officers to be more
proactive in tackling these issues. We treat each case on its
merits and will only exercise Section 12 powers in relation to
‘problem’ drinking, that is, where accompanied by anti-social
behaviour or disorder of the likelihood of anti-social behaviour or
disorder.”
“Tackling street drinking and anti-social behaviour is a
priority for Havant Borough Council and the Safer Havant
Partnership. It is hoped that by introducing an order covering the
whole borough will offer the best opportunity for tackling alcohol
related crime and disorder. It will present a consistent approach
for the whole borough thus avoiding confusion and uncertainty.”
says Tim Pointer, Community Safety Team Leader at Havant Borough
Council.
Note
The Criminal Justice and Police Act 2002 introduced the power
for Local Authorities to designate public places in which it will
become an offence to drink alcohol after being requested not to do
so by a Police officer. The Police will have the power to require
the surrender of alcohol and containers in these circumstances and
those who fail to comply will be liable to arrest. The mechanism
for this is a ‘Designated Public Places Order’.