Licensing board to scrutinise plans to curb street drinking

After previously being supported by area assemblies, Rotherham Council’s overview and scrutiny management board and also by the authority’s cabinet member for neighbourhoods, plans to introduce a single Designated Public Place Order (DPPO) for Rotherham are now set to go before the council’s licensing board at a meeting tomorrow.

Introducing the order would cost around £10,000 and would give both police officers and police community support officers additional powers to confiscate alcohol – including unopened containers – from anyone deemed to be causing “nuisance, annoyance or disorder”.

If they refuse to comply, individuals can then be arrested.

Made under discretionary powers given to councils 10 years ago, the orders have already been put in force in a number of areas across Rotherham including the town centre, Maltby and Wath-upon-Dearne.

Tomorrow the licensing board will consider bringing in an order to cover a vast swathe of Rotherham running from Wath in the north across to Aston in the south.

Only the most rural areas including Laughton-en-le-Morthen, Wentworth and Firbeck would not be covered by the new regulations.

The move comes after councillors previously considered bringing in a borough-wide DPPO which would cover the entire authority.

Similar orders are already in place in authorities including Calderdale, Blackburn with Darwen, Burnley, Coventry, Wigan and many London boroughs.

However, it was decided not to back such a drastic move which could leave the council open to a legal challenge.

Under Home Office guidance, to be able to legally enforce a DPPO a council needs to be satisfied that the order is “justified in relation to any particular public place”.

One extract from the Home Office guidelines reads: “We would advise caution, as in order for the DPPO to be proportionate, you need to ensure that there is evidence of alcohol-related anti-social behaviour in each and every part of the borough.”

A report to be considered by the licensing board said the proposed “single, multi-location order”, which is being considered instead of a blanket borough-wide DPPO, would cover “selected urban areas, parks, waterways and other identified public spaces”.

The report adds that the large-scale order would be “less confusing than having a number of individual areas where an order is in force”.

Before any DPPO could be introduced, a consultation would need to take place involving members of the public, the police and licensees.

The order would then need to be rubber-stamped by Rotherham Council.

Evidence from South Yorkshire Police cited in the licensing board report suggests that alcohol has an impact on crime and disorder in Rotherham “beyond the town centre and beyond night-time economy violence offences”.

Other “key areas” not currently covered by a DPPO include Swinton, Brinsworth and East Dene.

The report says: “Evidence suggests that our street drinking population varies from young disorderly drinkers through to older street drinkers who congregate to drink together.

“Action to deal with the harmful effects of alcohol, of which a DPPO is only one element, safeguards children.

“This proposal aims to encourage responsible drinking and reduce disorder.”

Current figures show that Rotherham’s anti-social behaviour rate of 88 incidents per 1,000 population is second only to Sheffield, within South Yorkshire.

The licensing board meeting begins at 9.30am tomorrow at Rotherham Town Hall.

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