Crackdown on anti-social public drinking

Herefordshire Council’s Regulatory Committee has approved measures to restrict anti-social public drinking in various areas of Hereford and the market towns of Ledbury, Ross-on-Wye and Leominster.

The committee decided, however, not to introduce a similar proposal for the town of Kington but to instead allow more time for public consultations to take place.

Under the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 and the Local Authorities (Alcohol Consumption in Designated Places) Regulations 2001, local authorities have powers to place restrictions on public drinking in designated areas where it may cause nuisance, annoyance or disorder.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
It will not be an offence to drink alcohol in these designated places but police or community support officers have the power to ask a person not to and failure to comply may lead to arrest.

Advertisements will be placed in local newspapers giving at least seven days’ notice of the Order coming into effect and signs will be placed at the main entrances to each of the designated areas.

It is planned for the Order to come into effect at midnight on Friday, December 15.