More ‘alcohol control zones’ to be introduced

More alcohol control zones are to be introduced across Caerphilly county borough to help prevent nuisance drinking in public areas.

Cabinet recently approved the plans, which will see the Designated Public Place Orders (DPPOs) introduced in 8 locations across the Caerphilly county borough, which will aid in further reducing levels of anti-social behaviour on our streets.

The DPPOs will be introduced in specific locations within: –

  • Risca
  • Croespenmaen
  • Trinant
  • Blackwood
  • Oakdale
  • Cefn Fforest
  • Abercarn
  • Cwmcarn

In order to come to a decision on the priority areas for the new DPPO areas, Caerphilly County Borough Council officers worked with Gwent Police officers to gather evidence of nuisance public drinking and put forward areas for consideration, supported by evidence that would allow for the prioritisation of these areas.

Cllr Lyn Ackerman, cabinet member for the environment said, “I very much welcome the extension of these ‘alcohol control zones’, which assist greatly in reducing nuisance and anti-social drinking in public places.

“DPPOs also help us promote the fact that nuisance drinking in public places is socially unacceptable, and allows law abiding citizens to reclaim their neighbourhoods from anti-social drinkers”.

DPPOs are important as an additional tool to tackle nuisance public drinking by people over the age of 18 – police and other authorised officers have the power to confiscate alcohol from young people under the age of 18 in any public place, without the need for it to specifically designated.

This is under the provisions of the Confiscation of Alcohol (Young Persons) Act 1997.

Inspector Alan Webber said, “We welcome the new DPPO areas. They provide police officers with additional powers to prevent incidents arising from public drinking. We can reassure local residents that where appropriate, officers will utilise these powers fully in order to protect our communities”.

For more information on how anti-social behaviour is being tackled in Caerphilly county borough, please visit the Safer CCB website.

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