April 19, 2012 3.06 pm This story is over 143 months old

DPPO drinking measure goes into force

New order: Police will now have extra powers to move on those who have been drinking excessively.
Showing off the new signage, Sam Barstow, Anti-Social Behaviour Team Leader at the City Council, and PCSO Clare Hart

Lincoln’s new Designated Public Place Order (DPPO) goes into force from April 20.

The DPPO will give police more power to tackle street drinking within a particular boundary of the city centre, agreed by the City of Lincoln Council.

Since the City Council passed the plans in November, signs are beginning to be put up around Lincoln, warning drinkers of the new rules.

The DPPO is not a drinking ban, but a way of allowing police officers to request an individual to stop drinking if they are becoming a nuisance.

If the individual ignores the warning, an offence is committed.

The DPPO boundary is set between Newport Arch, St Mark’s Shopping Centre, Broadgate and the Brayford Way Bridge.

The original proposals between Newport Arch, South Park roundabout, the Grandstand and Arboretum were considered too large.

The city boundaries of the DPPO measure

Sam Barstow, Acting Anti-Social Behaviour Team Leader at the City of Lincoln Council, said: “The DPPO is one of a number of measures we’ve put in place to make Lincoln a safe and attractive environment.

“We work with the police, street pastors and city centre management, as well as bars and clubs, to keep people safe in the city centre, through both enforcement and preventative action, and are positive that this extra tool will help to tackle the specific problem of on-street drinking.”

Lincoln Centre Neighbourhood Policing Inspector Mark Garthwaite said: “This is good news for the people of Lincoln and those who use and visit the city centre.

“DPPO legislation is another tool which we, the police, can use to reduce the behaviour of those individuals who drink in the street and then choose to behave in an anti-social manner.

“This is not about stopping sensible and well behaved drinking, but those whose behaviour is not acceptable should at least expect to have their drink taken from them, and to be required to leave the area.”

Source: City of Lincoln Council