Possible alcohol ban for Orpington

3:59pm Friday 19th September 2008

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POLICE are recommending drinking alcohol in public places be banned from Orpington town centre due to anti-social behaviour.

Bromley Council has received an application from Orpington Safer Neighbourhood Team for an alcohol control zone to be introduced in the high street which it will consider at a meeting on Wednesday.

Portfolio holder for public protection and safety Councillor Colin Bloom will decide whether to begin consulting residents and businesses on bringing in a ban.

A decision will be made based on how much nuisance and disorder is caused by alcohol.

Town centres in Bromley, Beckenham and Penge already have alcohol control zones.

The safer neighbourhood team has compiled a list of 31 reports of alcohol-related crimes between January and June this year that includes assault, windows being smashed, urinating in public and incidents of underage drinking.

Head of Orpington Safer Neighbourhood Team, Sergeant Russell Lamb, said: "We did research that showed a lot of problems in Orpington High Street associated with youths drinking alcohol.

"We have taken countless amounts of alcohol off kids on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.

"But now 16 and 17-year-olds are in groups where they are with adults, so they give the alcohol to adults, which we therefore can't take off them.

He added: "From the feedback we have had from businesses, no-one is opposed to an alcohol zone."

Orpington Councillor Pauline Tunnicliffe is very supportive of banning alcohol in the town centre.

She said: "We have an alcohol control zone in Bromley town centre which has proved to be very successful in reducing alcohol related problems.

"It's also good for reducing litter and broken bottles.

"My own perception from walking through Orpington during the day and the evening is that drinking in public has increased over the years."

ALCOHOL-RELATED INCIDENTS IN ORPINGTON

These are just some of the incidents police believe justifies their case for an alcohol control zone.

January 8, Orpington High Street: litter bin thrown at shop window causing it to smash, alarm sounded, empty can of lager found nearby.

February 23, Orpington High Street: man has part of his ear bitten off while urinating in toilet at pub.

March 7, Orpington High Street: male chased from along the high street by a group of 15 youths aged between 19 and 25 shouting they were going to kill him.

April 16: The Walnuts shopping centre: criminal damage to job centre windows, numerous beer cans left at scene.

May 4, Priory Gardens: person assaulted by person holding a bottle of vodka, victim of between eight and 10 females were seen drinking in the park.

June 21, Orpington High Street: man punched in head and chased with broken bottle by two drunken youths.