The Northwich and Rural North area is on December 16 to become the second area in Cheshire West and Chester to have a designated ‚ÄòResponsible Drinking Zone‚Äô….
As part of the application process to adopt this power, the Council consulted with businesses, licensees, parish, town and community councils, residents and Police.
The order backed by Cheshire West and Chester Council and Cheshire Police, provides according to police a tool to help combat alcohol-related crime and disorder in and around the area.
The defined boundaries for the blanket coverage are the same as those marked out for the Northwich and Rural North Area Partnership Board.
Creating a Responsible Drinking Zone means that Police Officers, Police Community Support Officers and Community Safety Wardens, have the power to remove alcohol from people who are causing a nuisance or are suspected of being likely to cause a nuisance whilst drinking alcohol in public places.
Cheshire West and Chester Councillor Lynn Riley, Executive Member for Community and Environment, said: “The Responsible Drinking Zone provides the Council and the Police with powers that many people think we have already, and simply provides the authority to make people surrender alcohol. We know that many people are concerned about this type of behaviour in their communities and this initiative is a preventative approach in reducing nuisance incidents associated with alcohol related crime and disorder throughout the area. The ‘Responsible Drinking Zone’ does not stop people drinking in these designated areas, but it will however make it an offence if someone who is causing a public nuisance refuses to comply with a request to stop drinking.”
Inspector Paul Loughlin from Cheshire Police, said: “A Responsible Drinking Zone throughout the area is a positive step towards tackling the issues caused by alcohol related anti-social behaviour and crime. The power will enable our officers to remove alcohol from people they suspect are causing a nuisance linked to alcohol consumption or are likely to.”
Police say that the adoption of the power across the area will provide officers throughout Northwich and Rural North with an additional tool that can be used to tackle alcohol-related crime and anti social behaviour. It will enable partner agencies to continue to make the area safe for residents, workers and visitors.
Advisory signs are being erected throughout the designated zones to inform everyone of their responsibilities to comply with the new order.
