Street drinking ban set to be extended after initial success

A BAN on street drinking in a suburb of a Yorkshire city is set to be extended, after both residents and businesses agreed it had resulted in a cut in alcohol-fuelled anti-social behaviour.

Back in February 2011, Sheffield Council’s licensing board agreed that a Designated Public Place Order (DPPO) should be implemented in the area around Market Square, in Woodhouse village.

Under the terms of the order, police have additional powers to ask people to stop drinking in a public place. Those who refuse face either arrest or a £500 fine.

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Six months after the order was introduced, councillors agreed that the DPPO was “helping to reduce noise and annoyance associated with the consumption of alcohol” in Woodhouse, an area which police said suffered from “disproportionate” levels of street drinking and nuisance behaviour.

Prior to the introduction of the DPPO, a study carried out by South Yorkshire Police found that 72 per cent of people in the area had witnessed alcohol-fuelled anti-social behaviour, with the main problems being cited as intimidation, noise, verbal abuse and harassment.

Now, council members are set to consider maintaining the DPPO in the current area, and also extending it into the Tannery Park area of Woodhouse.

Evidence from South Yorkshire Police will go before a meeting of Sheffield Council’s licensing board on Tuesday, October 16, when councillors will discuss the DPPO.

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The police report says that officers first used powers under the order at 8.45am on April 1, 2011, and have since used those powers 55 times.

A consultation carried out by South Yorkshire Police in Woodhouse village found that a huge 100 per cent of businesses and 98 per cent of residents said they were in favour of continuing the order.

The police report says: “All 32 of the businesses consulted said they would support the continuation of the DPPO. Twenty-seven of those said they had noticed a difference in street drinking and associated anti-social behaviour in Woodhouse and 14 businesses have experienced an improvement in trading since the DPPO came into force.

“Also worthy of note is that two new businesses have opened up since the DPPO began and continue to trade successfully.”

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Inspector Jason Booth, from the Woodhouse and Mosborough safer neighbourhood team, was the police officer who first asked Sheffield Council to consider implementing the DPPO.

In his original report to the authority last year, he said that the order was “not something considered hastily and without an overview of the problems that have existed in Woodhouse village for many years.”

He added: “Historically, Woodhouse has experienced street drinking and associated anti-social behaviour in and around the village centre, particularly Market Square.

“Numerous policing initiatives have been utilised within the village, most of which have achieved short-term improvement.

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“However, over the longer term the same issues have soon reoccurred, requiring a renewed response.”

Prior to introducing the order, Sheffield Council also heard from one Woodhouse resident who had pleaded with police to
“remove the terrible drunken people who hang around and 
mar our beautiful shopping precinct.”

He said: “These people loiter outside the Costcutter super- market accosting, begging and intimidating women, children and pensioners.

“Several people have approached officers about this matter but the matter continues to go on.

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“People in Woodhouse are starting to lose faith in the police.”

Inspector Booth is set to give a presentation to members of the licensing board at next Tuesday’s meeting, which begins at 10am at Sheffield Town Hall.