Alcohol order now extended across Ashington
Jul 30 2010 The Journal
POLICE powers to tackle alcohol-fuelled troublemakers are being extended in a move that will make the whole of a Northumberland town a no-go area for anti-social drinking.
The new clampdown will allow officers patrolling the streets and parks of Ashington to arrest people who refuse to stop drinking or hand over their cans and bottles when asked to do so.
It is aimed at making the former pit town safer and more pleasant for law-abiding citizens, and is part of a growing trend for drink controls to cover entire towns or even whole council areas.
Northumbria Police officers can already seize alcohol from troublemakers in Ashington’s main shopping centre and Hirst Park.
They were made the subject of Designated Public Place Orders six years ago. Now the two orders are to be revoked and replaced with a much wider one covering the whole of the town. Police and council chiefs say the two orders have been effective in reducing incidents of violence, criminal damage, anti-social behaviour and disorder.
However, they have had knock-on effects with problems moving into other parts of the town that are not covered by the controls.
The town-wide order has been approved by Northumberland County Council’s licensing and regulatory committee.
It was supported by the police, Ashington Town Council and local residents, through a widespread consultation exercise which attracted no objections.
Yesterday, town councillor Brian Gallacher said he believed that more people were drinking in public places because of the availability of cheap alcohol in supermarkets, the cost of going to licensed premises for a drink and high unemployment levels in Ashington.
The town councillor said: “This is a big issue and a big thing for the town.
“This DPPO will give the police a little bit more power to stop people drinking and getting involved in anti-social behaviour, damage and graffiti on the streets.
“It has received widespread support and we believe it will give the local community a sense of well-being.”
The orders carry the penalty of arrest and fines of up to £500 for people who flout them.
