A SCHEME to clamp down on anti-social drinking in Harborough has been put forward by a group tasked with improving community safety in the town.
The initiative, which would see the police given extra powers to stop disorderly street drinkers, was proposed as a way of combatting anti-social behaviour at the first meeting of the town’s Safer and Stronger Communities group, held last Thursday (J
uly 5).
The group was formed as a result of the ‘Hands on Harborough’ event, a project held in March to discuss the future of the town, and is made up of representatives from the police, Neighbourhood Watch, council and voluntary services.
It has proposed placing a Designated Public Places Order (DPPO) on the town centre, including areas such as The Square and the Memorial Gardens. Under the order police officers would be given powers to confiscate alcohol from people who they believe to be acting in an anti-social way. Anyone refusing to give up their alcohol can be arrested and fined up to £500 while anyone handing it over but continuing to be disorderly can be arrested and charged with public order offences. The order is not a ban on alcohol and would not stop people from drinking sensibly in public places.
Marion Lewis, chair of Harborough District Neighbourhood Watch Support Group and committee champion, said: “Rather than imposing a total alcohol exclusion zone, the implementation of a DPPO allows for those who are behaving in an anti-social way to be dealt with.
“It must be stressed that such an order would not just be targeting younger people but all age groups which act anti-socially.”
The proposal will be put forward to Harborough Improvement Team’s steering committee, due to meet tomorrow (Friday) and would need to be approved by the district council.
l A CRIME prevention scheme for Harborough businesses was another proposal to come out of the meeting of the Safer and Stronger Communities group.
The ‘Business Against Crime’ scheme would aim to provide a support structure for business parks outside of the town centre who are not covered by the Harborough Against Retail Theft (HART) radio scheme or by Countryside Watch programmes.
Any businesses wishing to join or play a role in the formation of the Business Against Crime scheme should contact Marion Lewis or Henry Whatley at Harborough police on 0116 2222222, using extension number 3875 or 3871.
