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Council to ban 'anti-social' drinking - comments needed!

james | 21.11.2003 18:33 | Cambridge

Cambridge City Council seek comments on proposed new byelaw to ban 'anti-social drinking'

In an attempt to 'crack down' on 'anti-social behaviour' the Council is proposing to introduce a new law that bans drinking alcohol in a public place in a manner likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress.

It gives the police power to confiscate anything which they beleive to contain alcohol. The police can then dispose of this in "such a manner that [they] consider to be appropriate." (!)

It also gives police the power of arrest if the person concerned is, amongst other things "suffering physical injury"!

The law is clearly a politically motivated attempt by the Council to be seen to be targeting 'homeless people', as all powers contained within the byelaw already exist (Section 51 Criminal Justice & Public Order Act 1994, Section 5 Public Order act 1986, Licensing Act 2003)


The council are inviting comments on the proposed byelaw before it is introduced.

You can read the text of the new byelaw and comment upon it here:  http://www.cambridge.gov.uk/councillors/byelawnotice.htm

james

Comments

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One law for the rich...

21.11.2003 22:12

Just to emphasise the way in which these proposals are being introduced in a nakedly discriminatory way, here is something from an earlier story in the local paper:

Superintendent John Raine, of Cambridgeshire Constabulary, said: "It would be just another tool in the toolkit for an officer and it is not something we would expect to use day in day out.

"The council needs to be careful that it is drawn up so that it penalises those involved in antisocial behaviour rather than someone having a glass of Chardonnay in a punt."

(See  http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/search/dispstory.asp?id=39020&db=1 )

Voluntary Slave

Are they going to nick cambridge uni students?

22.11.2003 12:39

By far thepopulation with the greatest drinking problem in cambridge are university students. Drinking is institutionalised, drinking societies are routinelly roaming around the streets pissed, and sporting events are never sober either. My guess is that such rules are going to be applied very selectivelly not to touch the dear little students, while 'clearing' the streets of homeless people.

manos

Councillor Contacts

22.11.2003 12:45

You can find contact details for your local City Councillors by going to the following page and clicking on the link for your ward.

 http://www.cambridge.gov.uk/councillors/ward_representation.htm

I'm going to write to my lot asking what will actually change if the local law is passed (apart from them looking like they're being tough on homeless people). We also need to ask what steps they are taking to actually help people who are living on the streets. In a letter to Romsey residents from our three Lib Dem cllr's, they say that:

"We also want to make sure that people who are homeless, people who have mental health problems, and people who are on drink and drugs are given the support they need. People who are street drinkers are often people who have turned to alcohol after giving up herion. Simply criminalising their behaviour will not on its own get them to change their behaviour, nor will it lead to a safer community for us all to live in"

Fine words. All very true...but absolutely no mention of a single practical thing that they are going to do to offer extra support. So the stick will be used heavily, with no sign of any carrot.

Poon