Borough's public drinking ban set to be approved

Open containers of alcohol could be seized once the ban is passed

A plan to ban drinking alcohol in public across all of Slough is set to be approved.

The public space protection order (PSPO) would prohibit consuming alcohol or having an “open container” that is "reasonably believed" to contain alcohol in public places.

Slough Borough Council said 93% of all people who responded to a consultation about the plan earlier this year were in favour.

The authority’s cabinet is set to approve the three-year order next Monday.

A respondent to the consultation, which ran from 15 January to 12 February, said they had seen street drinkers “urinate and defecate on the street in full view of [the] public”.

“Not what I want to view or for my children to witness. Disgusting,” they added.

The authority said without a ban it is “inevitable” anti-social behaviour will continue.

Slough previously had a PSPO banning public drinking between 2017 and 2020 but only in certain areas.

The authority suggested that led to public drinkers moving to places where the ban was not in force.

Anyone who breaks the new order could be issued with a £100 fine and convicted of a criminal offence if they do not pay it.

It would also be an offence to not stop drinking alcohol or to refuse to hand alcohol over to police or authorised officers when asked.