Booze clampdown in Ipswich's streets

ROWDY drinkers will be banned from having booze in Ipswich's streets from tomorrow.

ROWDY drinkers will be banned from having booze in Ipswich's streets from tomorrow.

From midnight police officers and police community support officers will be able to stop people drinking in public across the town if they are being anti-social, if they could start to behave badly, if complaints have been received about them or if they are drunk or likely to get drunk.

The 'restriction of alcohol consumption in a public place' order will still allow people to drink responsibly in public.

However if someone is asked to surrender their drink and refuses without a good reason they could be arrested or fined £500.

Councillor Phil Green, Ipswich Borough Council's portfolio-holder for community safety, said: "We urge people to be sensible and responsible where alcohol is concerned.

“Our aim is to ensure that residents, businesses and visitors are able to enjoy the vibrant nature of Ipswich. This should be without risk or fear of any nuisance or disorder caused by a few people intoxicated in public."

Tibbs Pinter, the council's substance missue officer, added: "This can be a bit of a silly time for some people.

“They use the celebratory atmosphere to drink far too much at times and in public places. Unfortunately, these few ruin the safe and normally jovial environments in many of our neighbourhoods, causing disorder, nuisance and criminal damage.

“Alcohol-related fighting and accidents also present an unnecessary strain on all our health services over this period."