No alcohol zones introduced in five Knowsley
parks
2 July 2009
Alcohol free zones are being set up in Knowsley to tackle crime
and anti social behaviour caused by binge drinking. The Safer
Knowsley Partnership, which includes Merseyside Police and Knowsley
Council, is taking the measure after successfully securing the
borough’s first Designated Public Place Orders back in 2008.
The orders have been approved in Wignall Park, Court Hey Park,
Stadtmoers, Millennium Green and Henley Park, and will come into
force on 16th July 2009. The orders will make it an offence for
anyone to drink alcohol after being required by a police officer
not to do so. Police have the power to confiscate and dispose of
alcohol and it is an arrestable offence to fail to co-operate,
without reasonable excuse, with a police officer's request. The ban
does not affect drinking in any licensed premises.
Knowsley Council’s Licensing Committee approved the orders on
25th June 2009. This is part of the Safer Knowsley Partnership’s
on-going commitment to reduce alcohol related crime and disorder
and anti-social behaviour.
The order has been introduced following extensive consultation
with the public, businesses, schools, licensed premises and
councillors.
Steve Agger, Service Director for Crime and Disorder, Knowsley
Council, said “I am confident that the alcohol free zones will have
a real impact on crime and safety in the area. As a partnership,
the council and the police will not tolerate what is a national
trend to binge drink in public and these new powers will help to
reduce crime and disorder and complement other work taking place
across the borough including prosecuting outlets who sell to
underage people."
Chief Superintendent John Young, Area Commander for Knowsley,
added “These new powers will send out a clear message that alcohol
related disorder and associated anti-social behaviour will not be
tolerated. We will continue to carry out education initiatives and
enforcement action, working together with local partners, to ensure
that our borough is a safer place which everyone can enjoy
visiting.”
Note to the Editors:
The Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 gave the power for
local authorities to designate public places where it will be an
offence to drink alcohol after a police officer or a Community
Support Officer told someone not to do so. The police and community
support officers will have the power to confiscate alcohol and
containers, if they feel there is potential to be anti-social
behaviour. Those who do not comply will be liable to arrest. The
order does not cover the inside of any licensed premises nor any
licensed area attached to the premises, such as beer gardens. The
purpose of the order is not to ban the drinking of alcohol on the
streets but as one measure to tackle alcohol-related anti-social
behaviour.
The Designated Public Place Orders have been imposed to:
- Give police and accredited officers the power where there is
repeat and persistent nuisance, clearly linked to the public
drinking of alcohol.
- Enable those officers to target people who cause a nuisance
when they are moving between licensed premises.
- Cut down alcohol-related anti-social behaviour in public.
- Enable police and accredited officers to tackle any nuisance in
those designated areas clearly linked to the public drinking of
alcohol. There will be clear public signage in these areas.
Maps of the zones