03 December 2008
A further 3 areas of the Caerphilly county borough are being proposed to become designated "alcohol control zones" in order to prevent nuisance drinking in public places.
Plans have been drawn up by Caerphilly County Borough Council to introduce designated public place orders (DPPO's) in 3 new areas, to add to the 25 DPPO's currently in existence throughout the borough. If accepted, it is hoped they will aid in further reducing anti social behaviour on the streets.
The proposals follow discussions with colleagues at Gwent Police and consideration of "hotspot" areas.
The proposals are for DPPO's to be introduced in specific locations within:
- Phillipstown
- Fochriw
- Britannia
Extensive consultation will take place on the proposals, with the results being taken to a future CCBC Living Environment Scrutiny Committee for approval, prior to the report going to Cabinet for a final decision.
Previous reports on DPPO's have emphasised that the legislation for DPPO introduction does not allow for a comprehensive, county borough-wide ban on public drinking.
It is also the case that the measure is only required to tackle nuisance public drinking by people over the age of 18; police and other authorised officers have powers to confiscate alcohol from young people under the age of 18 in any public place, without the need for it to be specifically designated, under the provisions of the Confiscation of Alcohol (Young Persons) Act 1997.
In addition, it should be noted that an offence is only committed under the DPPO legislation if a person who is drinking alcohol in a designated place fails to stop doing so if requested by an authorised officer.
Cabinet member for the environment, Cllr Lyn Ackerman said, "I very much welcome the new proposals to introduce further "alcohol control zones". If accepted, these DPPO's will help us and our colleagues at Gwent Police to get across the message, as in other areas of the borough that already have DPPO's, that nuisance drinking in public places is socially unacceptable, and they would allow law abiding citizens to reclaim their streets from anti social drinkers."
Inspector Alan Webber, Head of C Division's Crime and Disorder Reduction Unit said, "DPPO legislation has assisted greatly in reducing anti social behaviour and other matters related to drinking in public places.
It also provides reassurance to the public that those areas most affected are targeted and legislation enforced."
The Safer Caerphilly Community Safety Partnership has three main priorities, one of which is "reducing the harm caused by alcohol". Both the SCCSP and its partner agencies are working on a multi-faceted response to the problems associated with the misuse of alcohol from an education, prevention, treatment and enforcement perspective. The use of DPPO's form part of this.
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