Alcohol Control Areas - Designated Public Place Orders

Community Safety Partnership Coordinator   01795 417336   crime@swale.gov.uk  
Last updated on 24 May 2010   Promoting a safer and stronger community

Please drink responsibly, or the police could use their powers to take away your alcohol and fine you.

Following successes in Sittingbourne, Leysdown and Sheerness, the Swale Community Safety Partnership is continuing its promotion of responsible drinking - to people who live, work or visit our towns. As part of this campaign, Swale Borough Council is introducing a ‘Designated Public Place Order’, otherwise known as an ‘Alcohol Control Area’, in Faversham on the 17th March 2010.

What is a Designated Public Place Order?

Where drinking is associated with criminally or antisocial behaviour, it has an impact on the individual, their family and the whole of the community. The Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 introduced the power for local authorities to designate public places, in which it will become an offence to drink alcohol after being requested not to do so by a police officer. The police will have the power to require the surrender of alcohol and containers in these circumstances. Those who fail to comply will be liable to arrest. The mechanism for such a ban is a ‘Designated Public Place Order’ which is otherwise known as an ‘Alcohol Control Area’. 4 Designated Public Place Orders are now in place in: Sittingbourne Faversham Sheppey Leysdown

A public consultation was held for each of the four areas.

Maps of all the Alcohol Control Areas across Swale are available to download at the bottom of this page. 

Why has this been introduced?

The key aims for Swale are to:

• Provide additional powers to police to enable them to deal with persistent street drinking and alcohol related anti-social behaviour.
• Reduce alcohol related disturbances in public places.
• Reduce drunkenness in public places.
• Contribute to the range of actions which are being delivered to reduce alcohol misuse.
• Reduce the numbers of street drinkers and hotspot areas through combining enforcement with outreach services.

What is responsible drinking?

Drinking alcohol is widely associated with socialising, relaxing and pleasure. Over 90% of the adult population drink alcohol, and the majority do so without causing any problems, the majority of the time. Drinking within the recommended levels can even provide some health benefits.

The Government’s Recommended Sensible Drinking levels are:

• A maximum intake of 2-3 units per day for women and 3-4 for men, with two alcohol-free days after heavy drinking, continued alcohol consumption at the upper level is not advised.

Continued heavy drinking or binge drinking can cause problems for an individual’s health.

What will happen if I do not stop drinking alcohol?

If you continue to drink when asked not to, your alcohol may be confiscated and disposed of by the officer.

What if I surrender my alcohol?

If you surrender your alcohol and do not continue to behave in an anti-social manner there will be no further action.

What will happen if I do not hand over my alcohol?

If you do not surrender your alcohol, you may be issued with a fixed penalty notice or arrested and convicted to a maximum fine of £500.

What will happen if I hand over my alcohol but continue to behave in an anti-social manner?

You may be arrested and convicted of a Public Order offence

Our aim is to ensure residents, businesses and visitors are able to enjoy the benefits of Faversham, Sittingbourne and Sheppey. This should be without risk or fear of any nuisance or disorder caused by the behaviour of a few people intoxicated by alcohol in public.
 
This means that within an Alcohol Control Area a Police Officer, Police Community Support Officer or Council Warden may ask you to stop drinking in a public place if:

• You are creating disorder or behaving in an anti-social manner (while drinking alcohol or under the influence of alcohol);
• There is a likelihood of anti-social behaviour or disorder (while drinking or under the influence of alcohol);
• Complaints have been received from the public concerning an ongoing or developing problem.

This order will not affect you if you are drinking responsibly in a public place

Further Information

For more information about any of the Designated Public Place Orders (Alcohol Control Areas) in Swale, contact Swale Borough Council on 01795 417850.

For more information about the Swale Community Safety Partnership and its joint initiatives to deal with crime and anti-social behaviour where you live, contact Swale Community Safety Unit on 01795 417193 or visit www.swalecsp.co.uk

Helpful Contact Numbers

• Community Safety Partnership: 01795 417193
• Swale Borough Council: 01795 417850
• Swale Domestic Abuse Information Line: 01795 434900
• National Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0808 2000247
• National Alcohol Helpline: 0800 917 8282
• Crime Stoppers: 0800 555 111
• Report Anti-Social Behaviour: 01795 417575
• Police (non-urgent): 01622 690690

Download Maps

Pdf file format maps. open in a new browser window.