A CLAMPDOWN on anti-social behaviour and drinking has been unveiled by city council chiefs with the introduction of several Public Spaces Protection Order’s (PSPO) across areas of Worcester.
The orders will apply to the city centre and additional areas at Cranham Drive and Windermere Drive in Warndon, KGV Playing Fields, an area around Rose Avenue in Tolladine and the Blackpole Industrial Estate.
Concerned councillors on the Communities Committee gave the green light to the plans last Wednesday which require any person in a designated public place not to drink alcohol and to surrender to a police or civil enforcement officer any container in their possession used to carry alcohol.
In the future any person found by police, community support officers or designated council officers to be in breach of the proposed requirements will be guilty of a criminal offence under the Anti-social Behaviour Crime and Policing Act 2014.
They could receive a fine of £70 or if prosecuted in magistrates court, could face a maximum payment of £1,000.
The move follows a public consultation in the spring which received 430 responses from members of the public. 300 respondents described street drinking as a ‘big’ or ‘fairly big’ problem in Worcester while 316 said they would support the confiscation of a container containing alcohol within the designated public space.
“It’s clear street drinking causes significant disturbance to residents and puts huge pressure on police time and hospital resources,” said Coun James Stanley, chair of the committee.
“Introducing this new order will give the council and police greater powers to intervene at an earlier stage and to take punitive action where appropriate.”
The PSPO will not apply to licensed premises and their immediate surroundings. Premises or event organisers will still be able to apply for licences to temporarily enable the sale and consumption of alcohol.
“There is clear public support in Worcester for tougher action on street drinking,” said Coun Lynn Denham, vice chair of the committee.
“This is about curbing the actions of people whose drinking impacts on the wider community, causing disturbance and anxiety.”
The PSPO will come in to force from mid-August, once legal formalities have been completed with signs installed in all locations covered by the ban.
What do you think? E-mail [email protected] with your views
