Information on Loughborough

Hinckley police gain new powers to act on alcohol nuisance

Posted on 14/08/2009

arrest,villain,police,constabulary Hinckley police gain new powers to act on alcohol nuisance

Media release on behalf of Leicestershire Constabulary and Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council

Police have gained get new powers to curb drink-fuelled anti-social behaviour across parts of Hinckley and Bosworth this week.

On Friday, 14 August, new powers come into force. These mean that in designated public places, it will be an offence to continue drinking alcohol where a police officer has told someone not to. The officer can also seize the alcohol, and arrest anyone who refuses to comply with the instruction.

The new powers involve parts of Burbage, Hinckley, Barwell, Earl Shilton, Bagworth, Barlestone, Desford, Newbold Verdon, Ratby and Groby. They were made designated public places by Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council earlier this year.

Under the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001, areas can only be designated if they have a history of being associated with alcohol-related nuisance or anti-social behaviour. The powers do not apply to licensed premises or pub beer gardens. The purpose is to tackle alcohol-related anti-social behaviour, not public drinking in its own right.

Inspector Rich Ward, local policing unit commander for Hinckley, said: “This gives us another way to manage alcohol-related disorder, and will be a valuable tactic for us to use.

“It is a good example of the way the council and Leicestershire Constabulary are working together to tackle anti-social behaviour.”

Ron Grantham, Community Safety Manager from Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council, said: “I welcome this new power that isn’t aimed at normal law abiding people but gives us in partnership with the Police an extra tool to tackle those individuals or groups who plague people’s lives by getting drunk in public places and then resorting to anti-social and rowdy behaviour that upsets and annoys our residents.”