The Tyne and Wear Metro system is being declared an alcohol-free zone, so from December 6 it will be an arrestable offence to drink or carry alcohol anywhere on the network.
Northumbria Police Sergeant Neil Harvey, of the Metro Unit, said: " These powers will be far more robust than the existing bylaws. If officers see someone drinking alcohol or what is reasonably believed to be alcohol they can require the person to stop drinking. The alcohol can be seized and disposed of and failure to comply without reasonable excuse is an arrestable offence."
Sgt Harvey, who has worked in the Metro Unit for 10 years, came up with the idea for a no-alcohol zone in May last year. The North Tyneside Safer Communities Partnership submitted a funding bid, on behalf of Northumbria Police, all five local authorities and Nexus, to the Go North East crime reduction directorate which granted £30,000. The scheme was then co-ordinated by Janine Richmond, of Nexus, who was seconded to North Tyneside Safer Communities Partnership to carry out the work on behalf of all local authorities and partners.
Sgt Harvey added: " We often encounter problems with drunken adults on the system or adults who are drinking alcohol but aren’t drunk. Now it doesn’t matter whether they are an adult or a youth or whether they are drunk or not. If they are drinking, intend to drink, or have been drinking, these powers will help us deal with them. We always wanted to have this zone in place well before the party season of Christmas and New Year so the public have had time to get used to it." Officers will seek an Anti-Social Behaviour Order from the courts if someone repeatedly offends under this legislation and continues to commit disorder type offences.
