August 19, 2011 7.00 am This story is over 151 months old

New proposals to curb anti-social drinking

New powers: A petition to introduce new powers that could curb anti-social drinking in the city centre will be debated.
Photo: Staging courtesy of Lincolnshire Police cadets

City councillors will debate on August 23 new measures proposed by petitioners to tackle anti-social drinking on Lincoln’s streets and open spaces.

The Community Leadership Scrutiny Committee will meet on Tuesday and discuss proposals to impose a Designated Public Place Order (DPPO) in Lincoln city centre.

The debate is fuelled by a petition the council recently received on behalf of local residents, asking for the council to put the DPPO in place.

The petition had 90 signatures and was handed to the council in June. It was headed by city resident Rod Williamson, who says street drinking “puts people off the city centre” and is intimidating:

“I have seen the situation around street drinking get rapidly worse in the city centre,” Williamson said.

“It is not a question of condemning or demonising people, but they are not helped by having the centre streets as a drinking venue.”

A DPPO can give officers the power to stop people drinking alcohol in a public place where there is repeat and persistent nuisance linked to drinking alcohol in public.

The DPPO would not ban alcohol consumption in public, but makes it an offence to carry on drinking alcohol when asked to stop by a constable or authorised officer.

The area that could be covered by the DPPO in Lincoln (click to zoom)

The proposed DPPO covers a large area from Newport Arch in the north, to South Park roundabout, and across the city from the Grandstand in the west, to the Arboretum in the east.

The first DPPO was put in place in 2006 covering the Arboretum, set up as a pilot to see if it could be effective in other areas of the city.

“I think one of the issue about putting a DPPO order is displacement,” Williamson said, explaining why such a large coverage area is needed.

“Drinkers switched to the next street, which wasn’t covered, so the area needs to be big enough to not to be allowing people to easily avoid the rules.”

Ward councillors in the affected areas are supporting the idea of a DPPO, alongside Lincolnshire Police and Lincoln BIG.

Advisors from the City Council, Nottingham City Council and the Nomad Trust will also attend the meeting.

City Council Leader Ric Metcalfe said: “The petitioners are quite right to draw attention to the need to deal with the anti-social behaviour which can arise as a result of drinking in public places in Lincoln.

“Having all of the relevant bodies and experts at the meeting means the committee can have a full, frank and informed debate before the decision comes in front of the council’s Executive.”

The Community Leadership Committee meeting takes place at 6pm on Tuesday, August 23, at the Lincoln Drill Hall.

Source: City of Lincoln Council