Booze is seized from more than 60 drinkers in Bilston
Dozens of people found drinking in the streets of one town have had booze confiscated from them since new police powers were introduced this summer, figures showed today.
A total of 61 confiscations have been made in Bilston town centre since a designated public place order was imposed. The figures comes as a three-month public consultation remains under way running across Wolverhampton to see if the same policy should be enforced on all of its streets to tackle compaints over drink-related anti-social behaviour
Bilston East neighbourhood Sgt Lisa Tibbitts said: "The designated public place order covering Bilston town centre restricting the drinking of alcohol continues to be a priority.
"Since the order came into force 61 confiscations have been made. Residents are encouraged to report any sightings of breaches of the order."
The council began a public consultation on November 1 into plans to implement a city-wide order that would allow police to prosecute those caught drinking in the street.
There are currently four designated public places orders enforced across Wolverhampton, in the city centre, Tettenhall Green, Phoenix Park off Dudley Road and in Bilston.
The council now wants to introduce a city-wide order as a more cost-effective alternative to dealing with individual applications.
Council bosses said they have been receiving requests for more orders in places such as Wednesfield and Spring Vale. Last year, it emerged alcohol abuse was costing the Wolverhampton £19 million a year.
They say each individual order can be costly to implement and a blanket ban would be easier to enforce.
If the plans were approved, the ban would come into force from April next year. Walsall banned drinking in the street in 2008.
Under the order police officers and police community support officers can ask anyone believed to be consuming alcohol to stop drinking and the alcohol can then be disposed of.
