Derby street drinkers get warnings during police blitz on alcohol
A SIX-HOUR police blitz on street drinking saw 18 people given warnings and 20 litres of booze poured down the drain.
The operation, in Normanton Road, Derby, was part of a crackdown on unruly drinkers, which has seen an increase in the number of officers patrolling the area.
Residents and traders have spoken of their delight at the proactive policing.
Jarrod Cheshire, assistant manager of Rinkway Auto Centre, said the firm had had problems with drinkers congregating outside.
He said: "Things have definitely improved recently and the numbers of street drinkers are fewer.
"There now seems to always be a police presence in the road which gives businesses and residents more confidence, which is good."
Resident Mehmet Ansar, 41, of Rose Hill Street, said: "They [the drinkers] have been coming and going to and from the car park at Grove Street for years.
"They don't tend to bother me too much but their language can often be bad with them shouting and swearing at each other.
"That can't be nice for people walking past with their children.
"I think a police crackdown on them is a good thing."
And Jean Stanton, 52, of Normanton, said: "I find the street drinkers quite intimidating as they congregate together and get louder and swear more as they get progressively drunker.
"I hope the police carry on their work to get shot of them."
The most recent initiative saw police and community support officers confiscate and pour away alcohol.
Using powers under the Crime and Disorder Act, they also dispersed groups of drinkers and banned them from the area for 24 hours.
Eighteen people were issued with anti-social behaviour referrals – warnings that if they are caught drinking alcohol in the street again, they will receive an anti-social behaviour order.
The operation was the idea of PC Mick Donegan.
Inspector Richard Keene, said: "I am proud of the safer neighbourhood team for coming up with this initiative.
"It isn't nice for anyone, especially people with young children, to see these people drinking, shouting, swearing and sometimes brawling.
"I hope this sends out a message that this kind of behaviour won't be tolerated."
24 Comments
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by LordLindley
Thursday, February 23 2012, 12:03PM
“Police them off the streets and put them in a freezing cell for the night. I drink, but control myself. It's called having morals & a spine. Bring in the minimum unit price & double it, to stop the rabble/scum from buying it & getting blasted. It doesn't affect pub prices & they are still the best place to control/monitor drinkers & the associated problems.”
by No_Respect
Thursday, February 23 2012, 9:09AM
“The cycle of how it works:
1) given money in he form of benefits as they are incapable of working
2) they spend (our tax) money on booze
3) they cause public disorders and police maybe involved
4) they cause injury to themselves and are taken to hospital (our taxes)
5) once they are "better" they are released
6) go to step (1)”
by 1realest2
Wednesday, February 22 2012, 9:53PM
“Jeff libdem do you always contrive your comments to provoke hatred?”
by 1realest2
Wednesday, February 22 2012, 9:49PM
“Not alot of difference from what goes on in town centers every weekend and within ppls homes everyday, but the government makes a good few pounds in tax which contributes to the welfare of those that dont drink without paying all that tax, and those in power can also be secure in their jobs (laughing at the expense of the masses).So please drink more! coz every penny counts inner feelings of love ? ebiss I wish it was, try walking into A&E on a saturday night that is a burden on our NHS and reduces my quality of life as the alcoholics are reclaiming a part of their contributions, to me and others that dont drink.IF you dont like it here! you are free to leave. Before you go please drink some more,my road can do with resurfacing”
by omrlp
Wednesday, February 22 2012, 9:25PM
“Evening all..
In support of "janine2011"
"Evening all...
I have to agree with that statement,i would also take it a step further,and have a thirty year prohibition on all beer,wine and spirit sales.That would allow England in the future to have for the first time in its history a Sober Generation..That does include alcohol used for religious purposes as well,after all have you seen a church goer with out a red nose..But would excuse alcohol used for medicinal purposes i.e pain relief as prescribed by a physician as a alternate holistic medicine as opposed to the standard,more damaging and addictive morphine..
Lord Whopping Foghole..."”
by The home store
Wednesday, February 22 2012, 7:27PM
“****their”
by The home store
Wednesday, February 22 2012, 7:26PM
“cut thier dame benefits problem solved”
by Shaky101
Wednesday, February 22 2012, 2:41PM
“LOL @ Eblis777. I would join in with the trolling, but I don't want to cause offence to the other decent folk on this site. I do enough of that handing out hate leaflets whilst dancing around, looking hateful and angry. Like a troll under a bridge really.
Jeff_libdem, the issue is not about Muslim sensitivities, but the general social ill of public drunkeness and disorderly behaviour the public at large has to tolerate with. I'm a Muslim and I don't drink alchohol, but I have no problem with other people who do.
My faith forbids its' FOLLOWERS from consuming alchohol, not everyone.
EVERYONE, regardless of race, religion, creed, will have an issue with public drunkeness.”
by onnhoj2010
Wednesday, February 22 2012, 11:57AM
“@Eblis777 - you make about as much sense as some of these street drinkers. There are laws in force regarding most of what you claim Muslims are 'allowed' to do. So if you have evidence, report it, rather than just coming on here for a racist rant.
There don't need to be restrictions on alcohol sale - all we need is for the police and courts to properly enforce the existing laws that are there to prevent these problem, supported by effective treatment for those who are genuinely dependent. It's an offence to be drunk in public or drunk and disorderly, it's an offence to sell alcohol to someone who's drunk, etc etc. Why should responsible home-drinkers suffer (and have to pay vastly inflated pub prices, janine2011), because no-one is enforcing existing laws?
Yet somehow we've got to the stage where when the police do decide to enforce laws it has become an 'initiative' for which they are 'praised' - when it should actually be a basic part of their job. I'm more surprised by the fact the the police have to have a special operation to take booze off street drunks - shouldn't they be doing it anyway?”
by janine2011
Wednesday, February 22 2012, 11:42AM
“There is an easy way to to curtail their drinking habits.............stop all the shops selling alcohol from 6am until 11pm. Go back to normal pub hours 11am to 2.30pm and 6 to11pm and when only the pub could sell it for consumption on and off the premises. Works two fold, gives the pubs more trade and cuts down the hours and where alcohol is available.”