SEIZED: Chief Inspector Gavin Williams with some of the booze confiscated by officers
BOOZE was taken from youngsters days before a blanket alcohol ban was passed in Chippenham.
Police confiscated bottles of spirits, beer and cider while patrolling the streets.
Under the newly-passed alcohol exclusion regulations, passed by North Wiltshire District councillors on Tuesday, police have the power to seize alcohol from anyone misbehaving.
Gavin Williams, the new Chief Inspector of North Wiltshire police, said: "This alcohol was seized from young people who were either causing damage or disorder to others or posing a medical risk to themselves.
"This is a sign to anyone acting in a drunken or anti-social way that we will act swiftly and confiscate their alcohol. I think that the alcohol exclusion zone will genuinely help to tackle anti-social problems and disorder in the town.
"It will only be used to seize alcohol from people who are causing problems and not for just anyone drinking outdoors.
advertisement
"A family enjoying a bottle of wine with a picnic in Monkton Park, for example, will not be affected.
"But, a group of adults drinking large quantities of alcohol at 11am and causing trouble will be tackled.
"It will also be used to stop people walking from pub to pub drinking from bottles or cans in the streets. We firmly believe this legislation will reduce the fear of crime as well as the level of anti-social related incidents as well."
The blanket booze ban will cover all of Chippenham, meaning that people who are moved on from one area cannot start drinking in another zone. Police now also have the power to hand out fixed penalty notices if a drinker continues to ignore warnings.
The alcohol exclusion zone or Designated Public Places Order (DPPO) was finally passed after much wrangling between district and town councillors and police.
There are similar orders in Calne, Malmesbury, Devizes and Trowbridge.
Chief Inspector Williams said: "You must be sensible when using public money to fund something to tackle such a problem and we are confident this will mean we get it right first time."
It is anticipated that the ban will come into affect in the next few weeks when warning signs are erected across the town.
Anyone who spots anti-social or drunken behaviour should call Chippenham Police on 0845 408 7000 or on Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
If you liked this article and would like to share it with others on the web who might be searching for good content we've made it easy for you to do it.
At the bottom of all articles, you'll see links to six sites. These sites - commonly called 'social bookmark' or 'social news' sites - have large communities of web users who share and rate interesting, useful and fun things on the web.
Clicking the links will automatically add the address of the story you are reading to one of these sites, letting you share it with others. Each site will ask you to register to share stories. Registration is free and once a member, you can store, recommend and search for stories that interest you.
Print
Email this
Comment
