Alcohol Consumption in Public Places (see DPPO)

12 May 2005

NEW POWERS TO REDUCE ANTI-SOCIAL DRINKING IN ST ALBANS CITY CENTRE

From 12 May 2005 police and police community support officers (PCSOs) will be using new powers that enable them to enforce the city centre No-Alcohol Zone. The change will help to tackle the problems caused by by anti-social drinking in the city centre.

Following extensive local consultation, St Albans City and District Council made a Designated Public Place Order, that came into effect on 1 April, under Section 13 of the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001. The Order replaces a former byelaw prohibiting the drinking of alcohol in the designated No-Alcohol Zone area and allows for more effective enforcement.

Within the designated area, a police officer or PCSO may require a person not to drink alcohol where the officer reasonably believes the person is, has or intends to do so, and to surrender anything in the person's possession which the officer reasonably believes to be alcohol or an alcohol container. Failure to comply with a requirement in respect of public drinking or surrender of alcohol, without reasonable excuse, is an arrestable offence. A person who commits such an offence is liable on conviction by a Magistrates' Court to a fine of up to £500.

The old No-Alcohol Zone signs around the city centre have been replaced with new signs which make clear the consequences of anti-social drinking within the Zone.

Councillor Brian Peyton, Portfolio Holder for Community Development, St Albans City & District Council, commented:

"I am sure this move will have a positive effect on reducing anti-social drinking in the city centre and improve the quality of life for residents of St Albans and visitors to our City. It demonstrates once again the close working relationship we have with our colleagues in Hertfordshire Constabulary through the Community Safety Partnership."

Members of the public should be reassured that the new powers are discretionary and that they will not be arrested for simply going about their daily business, e.g. purchasing alcohol from an off-license or supermarket to consume at home, or drinking alcohol sensibly within a pub garden.

The order will not apply to:

• Any area which is within the curtilage of any licensed premises;
• Any place where the sale of alcohol has been authorised by virtue of an occasional licence or permission;
• Any place for which a permit has been granted under Section 115(E) of the Highways Act 1980.

Schedule

Abbey Court Abbey Mews Abbey Mill End Abbey Mill Lane Abbey View Road Adelaide Street Albany Gate Albert Street Avondale Court Bardwell Court Bardwell Road Belmont Court Belmont Hill Bowes Lyon Mews Branch Road Bricket Road Britton Avenue Caesars Court Catherine Street Charter Close Chequer Street Christchurch Close Church Crescent Church Green Church Street Civic Close Footpath from Civic Close to Victoria Street Clifton Street Clockhouse Court College Place College Street Cottonmill Crescent Cottonmill Lane Cross Street Dagnall Street De Tany Court Drovers Way Essex Street Etna Road Fishpool Street Folly Lane Follyfields French Row George Street Gombards Gombards Alley Gonerston Grange Street Grove Road Half Moon Yard Hall Place Close Hall Place Gardens Hart Road Hatfield Road -Footpath on the east side of the St. Albans Campus of the University of Hertfordshire from Hatfield Road to St. Peter's Church Churchyard -Footpath on the east side of the St. Albans Museum from Hatfield Road to St. Peter's Church Churchyard. High Street Hill Street Holywell Hill Keyfield Terrace Kings Court Kings Road

Kingsbury Avenue Kitchner Mead Lady Spencer Grove Lattimore Road Lemsford Road Liverpool Road London Road Lower Dagnall Street Malthouse Court Manor Road Market Place Marlborough Road Mount Pleasant Lane New England Street New Kent Road Offa Road Old Garden Court Orchard Street Pageant Road Pearces Walk Penny Court Peters Close Pondswick Close Portland Street Queen Street Romeland Russell Avenue St. Georges Court St. Peter's Close St. Peter's Road Footpath from St. Peter's Road to St. Peter's Church Churchyard St. Peter's Street Alleyway between 27 and 29 St. Peter's Street Alleyway between 57 and 61 St. Peter's Street Selby Avenue Sopwell Lane Spencer Street Spicer Street Stapley Road Sumpter Yard Tankerfield Place Temperance Street The Broadway The Lawns The Sycamores The Yard Thorpe Road Upper Dagnall Street Upper Lattimore Road Upper Marlborough Road Upton Avenue Ver Road Verulam Close Verulam Road Victoria Street Waddington Road Watsons Alley Watsons Walk Waxhouse Gate Welclose Street Worley Road

Publicly Owned Areas

Car Parks

• Adelaide Street
• Albert Street
• Bricket Road
• Bricket Road North
• Civic Centre
• Drovers Way / Russell Avenue
• Gombards, off Upton Avenue
• Liverpool Road
• London Road (formerly Hart Road / Keyfield Terrance)

Parks, Gardens and Pleasure Grounds

• Cottonmill Pocket Park
• Glossop Memorial Gardens, Abbey Mill Lane
• Municipal Gardens, Charter Close
• New England Street Recreation Ground
• Romeland Gardens
• Quaker Burial Ground, Victoria Street
• Town Gardens
• Victoria Playing Field, Verulam Road
• Vintry Gardens

Open Spaces

• The open space between the District Council Offices and the Alban Arena
• The open space between the District Council Offices and the Civic Centre car park
• The open space between the District Council Offices and 18-30 St. Peter's Street
• The open space between Forrester House and 16 St. Peter's Street
• The open space between 16 St. Peter's Street and Lockey House
• The open space bounded by Civic Close, the Alban Arena, Lockey House and 16 St. Peter's Street.
• Town Hall Square
• The forecourt of Hertfordshire House, Civic Close
• The open space between the Weir and the Fighting Cocks Public House, Abbey Mill Lane

Privately Owned Areas

Car Parks

• Christopher Place Car Park
• The Maltings Car Park

Churchyards and Open Spaces

• Cathedral and Abbey Church of St. Alban Churchyard
• Abbey Orchard
• Church Green, St. Peter's Street
• St. Peter's Church Churchyard
• The open space between the Municipal Gardens and 34-42 St. Peter's Street
• Waxhouse Gate Gardens

Forecourts

• The forecourt of the Garibaldi Public House, 61 Albert Street
• The forecourt adjoining 41 Catherine Street
• The forecourt of 14-20 Holywell Hill
• The forecourt of 30-34 Holywell Hill
• The forecourt of 72 Holywell Hill
• The forecourt of Canberra House, 17 London Road
• The forecourt of 13a - 15c London Road
• The forecourt of The Marlborough Road Methodist Church, Marlborough Road
• The forecourt of 37-41 Pageant Road
• The forecourt of Marks and Spencer, 19-21 St Peter's Street
• The forecourt of Argos, 5-13 Spencer Street
• The forecourt of 21-29 Spencer Street
• The forecourt of 1-7 Verulam Road
• The forecourt of 55-61 Victoria Street
• The forecourt of 63-77 Victoria Street
• The forecourt of 62-80 Victoria Street

Shopping Centres

• Christopher Place
• Heritage close
• The Maltings

Letter to Licensees

Letter to Landowner(s) / Occupier(s)

Alcohol Control Zone