Council cracks down on street drinking in Spalding

A new scheme cracking down on street drinking and anti-social behaviour in Spalding town centre has been introduced.

South Holland District Council has set up a Public Space Protection (PSPO) in the area covering from St Thomas’ Road north to West Elloe Avenue and from the railway station east to Commercial Road.

Signs promoting the government-backed PSPO have been put in the town centre to encourage people to behave in an orderly and respectful way inside the designated area.

The PSPO replaces the previous Designated Public Place Order in the town centre, which resulted in a decrease in the number of reported street drinking incidents since 2014.

The new law does not allow for a complete ban on drinking alcohol in a public place.

Instead, the offence is failing to comply with an officer’s request to stop drinking within a PSPO area.

The following activities are offences within the PSPO:

• Failure to comply with an officer’s request to stop drinking alcohol in a public space
• Spitting saliva or any other product on to the ground
• Dropping litter
• Urinating or defecating

Malcolm Chandler, deputy leader of South Holland District Council, said: “Whilst it is pleasing to hear that reported incidents of anti-social behaviour are reducing in Spalding, we accept there are still incidents occurring and there remains a public perception of street drinking, which we want to change.

“The PSPO is a new piece of government legislation to help authorities address community concerns and make public spaces more welcome to the majority of people.

“It is important that incidents of antisocial behaviour are reported to the council’s Communities team on 01775 761161 or to the police via 101 so that issues can be monitored.”

Inspector Jo Reeves, community policing inspector for South Holland, said: “Lincolnshire Police are supporting SHDC with the PSPO to further the considerable good work which has taken place over the last few years to reduce street drinking to the low levels we currently experience.

“We will continue to provide a visible presence in reported hotspot locations to reduce antisocial behaviour and improve the locality for all who use it.”