Hackney Council has approved a ban on anti-social drinking in public spaces throughout the borough.
People found drinking alcohol in the streets by police could have their booze confiscated or be forced to pay a fixed penalty notice of £50, under new restrictions coming into force on 24 May.
The controlled drinking zone was approved at Monday evening’s meeting of the council’s cabinet by a unanimous vote.
Councillors said that the move is not intended to punish people drinking peacefully, and that it will be up to police officers to decide whether or not to take action against individuals.
Councillor Karen Alcock, Hackney’s Deputy Mayor said: “It doesn’t stop people from sitting on their own and having a beer – that’s not what the powers are there to do.
“It’s for the persistent drinkers who’re shouting and intimidating people, and giving police the power to deal with them.”
However doubts remain over the effects the new powers will have upon Hackney’s bars and restaurants, which provide a large number of jobs.
Asked if the powers will deter people from coming to Hackney to enjoy themselves, councillor Alan Laing offered a blunt “no”.
He said that the powers were designed to allow police intelligence to better target potential troublemakers in Hackney’s neighbourhoods and intervene before problems occur.
Hackney saw 5563 violent attacks in September 2009, 40 per cent of which could be blamed on alcohol, according to police reports.
Hackney is the sixth London borough to ban drinking in public spaces, following Camden, Brent, Lambeth, Hammersmith and Fulham, and Kensington and Chelsea.
The borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, which instigated similar policing powers in November 2006, found that emergency calls related to drunken vagrants fell by half in the year after the powers were approved.
Councillor Lang, the proposals say:
"The designation Orders are made under the provisions of the Criminal Justice and
Police Act 2001. The Act gives powers to local authorities to designate certain areas
as public places in which the drinking of alcohol is prohibited. In this instance the
whole borough has been designated as a public place for the order."
I think you owe the writer an apology.
So a ban on public drinking that allows you to drink in public so long as you're not shouting and intimidating people……..now I'm no lawyer, but I'm pretty sure the police have got some other powers to prevent that sort of behaviour already, regardless of whether you're drinking or not.
I love threatening shoppers but I don't really drink. I bet they'll plant a bottle of 20/20 on me now though….the bastards.
What a confusing, pointless waste of everyone's time.
The headline and article have now been amended to include the phrase 'anti-social'.
Many thanks,
Hackney Post online team
To once again correct this inaccurate reporting – this is not a ban on public drinking. This point has been made throughout the process and through the consultation. The council and the local police have expressly stated that it is not a ban on public drinking and your reporters have been present at meetings where this has been repeatedly stated.
Your headline and article specifically fails to address the points made:
– this will be used as a power by police through agreed tasking priorities – either through the borough tasking meetings where the overall issues in the borough are concerned, or through local CAP meetings for the Safer Neighbourhood Teams
– it will allow our professional support workers to more easily access problem street drinkers and help them into treatment options
– we have gone further than other boroughs in ensuring that the police will need to issue a copy of a form for each and every disposal – something that isn't done elsewhere – so that the full extent of enforcement can be accurately measured
– it allows a speedier response to alcohol-related ASB, without the months it takes to put a smaller area order in place
– the powers will be reviewed after 6 months and then on an annual basis. If they are no longer needed, the powers will be rescinded.
To argue that there are "Doubts" over the impact on bars and restaurants without any substantive basis, nor with evidence of some negative impact in other areas, which have these powers is simply trying to create a story which isn't there.
I think it is also a shame that you haven't interviewed members of the Hackney Central CAP who will talk to you about how our town centre has been transformed as a result of these powers – perhaps their positive experiences wouldn't have fitted in with the tone of all the reports on this site relating to these proposals.
Finally, might I remind you that almost two thirds of residents who responded to the consultation were in favour. The largest concern of those against was on ensuring that street drinkers had access to treatment – something we are committed to providing and this will make it easier for them to so access.
Yet another unenforceable political dictact forced upon the already stretched to breaking point Police
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