Tunstall Alcohol Restriction Zone expanded to cover areas outside the Town Centre - Tunstall Park, Bankeyfields Park, Cemetery

Comments about the scheme can be submitted in writing to Safer City Partnership, Town Hall, Civic Centre, Glebe Street, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 1HH or by email at safer.citypartnership@stoke.gov.uk.

Last week several meetings were held to try and put Tunstall back on track after groups started forming in town drinking from the early hours and generally bringing the town to low levels. In the past few months record amount of calls were made to the police ranging from complaints about language, intimidation, drunken behaviour, litter and so on. Complaints that weren't being made before their arrival earlier this year.

The first meeting on Monday was to discuss the mini mart on Tunstall High street by the roundabout, after businesses and residents pinpointed that shop in particular as fuelling the problem by selling strong drink from early hours.

Some proposals were put to the mini mart from the licensing committee such as labelling drink, going on refresher courses, have their CCTV appraised every two weeks, stop groups of more than two people forming out side premisses. However the committee weren't able to reduce the shop's selling hours or stop it from selling hi strength booze due to the lack of evidence presented.

A second proposal was also put forward which comprised of a Tunstall Town Alcohol Restriction Zone and past last week. The ARZ gives police discretionary powers to confiscate drink from anyone with it in public.

It's not clear what those powers are yet, but in other cities across England these basics tennets are in force.

The police (and Community Safety Officers accredited through a community safety accreditation scheme), have powers to control the consumption of alcohol within the designated area. If they believe someone is consuming alcohol or intends to consume alcohol they can:

• require them to stop; and
• confiscate alcohol from people whether the drinking vessel is unopened or not.
• If someone, without a reasonable excuse, fails to comply with the officer's request they are committing an offence and further action can be taken: ­
• a penalty notice for disorder of £50; ­
• arrest and prosecution for a level 2 fine (max £500); ­
• bail conditions can be used to stop the individual from drinking in public.

DPPOs are but one of a number of tools used by Local Authorise to combat anti-social behaviour.

Expansion of the ARZ out of the Town Centre and into Parks & Cemeteries

One of the biggest fears about zones like this is that they will push problems onto either other towns, or out of the town centre and to other places.

Martin Garner, Councillor for Goldenhill and Sandyford which includes areas that could be affected such as Tunstall North area and Bankeyfields Openspace said.

"A report on the proposed Tunstall Alcohol Restriction Zone went to the Council's Licensing Committee last week.

I was initially concerned that the report presented to councillors lacked both quantity and quality of supporting evidence, and the zone itself was too tightly drawn around Tunstall meaning that problems concerning alcohol misuse could be displaced to surrounding areas.

However, I spoke and voted in favour of the report and in response to my concerns and those of other councillors the proposed zone has been extended to take in a wider area, including the top section of Tunstall and the Bankeyfields estate.

I would urge anyone with views on the proposed Alcohol Restriction Zone to respond to the council's consultation before it is implemented."

Areas outside the Town Centre but effected by drink related ASB that are now covered by the new zone will also benefit as police currently only have the powers to confiscate alcohol from groups if they are underage, now they can remove all drink if they suspect that trouble will occur due to youths being intoxicated.

Magic Wand

This isn't a magic wand though that the police and council can wave that will make outdoors drinking and the trouble that goes with it disappear over night. The police have had massive cuts placed on them over the past two years, and as this is a enforcement power, it will only be as good as the resources available to it.

Consultation

The zone will now enter a 28 day consultation, during which there are a number of opportunities for members of the public to view the maps in more detail and to ask further questions. Currently, there are three sessions planned:

1. Sandyford Fire Station - Friday 11/11/2011 4.00pm - 8.30pm
2. Tunstall Market - Wednesday 16/11/2011 9.00am - 2.00pm
3. Tunstall Market - 18/11/2011 9.00am - 2.00pm

The Zone

Click for bigger/detailed map of Tunstall's ARZ