Police in Wolverhampton will get powers to seize booze from April
City-wide powers for police to seize alcohol from drinkers causing a nuisance will come into force in Wolverhampton in April, it can be revealed today.
Wolverhampton City Council is to bring in blanket rules for every public street and outdoor space apart from pub beer gardens after being inundated with requests.
It means that from April if police spot someone drinking alcohol they can demand drinks be handed over. If someone refuses they can be arrested.
It follows the introduction of similar schemes in the city centre in 2002, Tettenhall Green in 2004, Phoenix Park in Blakenhall in 2011 and Bilston town centre last year.
There are also requests for similar schemes in Wednesfield and Spring Vale, but councillors have decided it is easier to just cover the entire city. The council's Labour cabinet is to rubberstamp the plans at a meeting on Tuesday, and subject to final approval the rules will then come into force on April 8.
It comes following a three-month consultation that started in November. Council licensing manager Colin Parr said: "Where a designated public place order (DPPO) is in place the police have the power to require anyone whose behaviour is causing a nuisance, annoyance or disorder and who is consuming alcohol in public to cease drinking and to surrender any opened or sealed containers holding alcohol.
"It is an offence if the individual fails to comply with either request, which could result in arrest or prosecution.
"DPPO does not on its own prevent people from drinking alcohol in public, which is why the use of the term "alcohol-free zone" is inaccurate.
"A police officer must use their discretion to determine whether to require that person to stop drinking and hand over for disposal whatever it is that they have been drinking, because of their associated behaviour."
