Council extends street-drinking order

The Public Spaces Protection Order has been extended for three years

Councillors have extended an order aimed at reducing street drinking in Bradford, saying that people feared visiting the city centre because of groups of anti-social street-drinkers.

The Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO), which gives police and council officers extra powers to crack down on street drinking, was first introduced in the city centre in 2016.

It was decided at Bradford Council's regulatory and appeals committee on Thursday that the PSPO would be extended until 2028.

The order also applies to the town centres of Keighley, Shipley and Bingley. It gives council wardens the power to confiscate alcohol from people in the street, as well as issue fines.

A consultation into the order found that the majority of the public supported its extension, but felt street-drinking was still a major issue in these areas, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Michael Churley, safer communities co-ordinator at the council, said: "This order largely relates to people living street-based lives in urban centres.

"They are people who are often substance-dependent and whose behaviour is really affecting people's quality of life due to issues like aggression, intimidation and urinating in public."

He said that, although only council wardens could issue fines, police had agreed to provide greater support in enforcing the order.

Hot spot areas raised by the public included Ivegate and Kirkgate in Bradford, Bow Street in Keighley and Manor Lane in Shipley.

Churley told members that the order also allowed officers to confiscate alcohol.

He said this was effective as many of the street drinkers "were not people on high incomes".

Councillor Matt Edwards emphasised the importance of these powers being enforced, as well as referring people for mental health and substance misuse support.

"Many of these people have had traumatic pasts, and we need to link them up with mental health support," he said.

"There is a perception that these people are homeless.

"The majority are in accommodation, but it is not great accommodation, so we need to help them into a better home."

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