Anyone refusing to surrender booze may be issued with a fixed penalty notice
Stock image(Image: Declan Roughan / Press Eye)
A Northern Ireland council has indicated it will sign up to new antisocial behaviour powers which will involve the “seizure” and “surrender” of alcoholic drinks in public.
Ards and North Down Borough councillors backed a call to “opt in” to proposed changes by the Stormont Department for Communities which will see new powers for police and councils when it comes to drinking alcohol in public.
DfC is proposing that articles of the Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 2008 should be amended, after discussion with the Department of Justice.
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It proposes to provide a specific power to police officers allowing the seizure and disposal of open and closed containers of alcoholic drinks in designated areas and in certain public order situations.
It further proposes to extend powers for police officers requiring individuals to stop drinking alcohol in a designated area to surrender any alcoholic drinks in their possession to council officers. Anyone refusing will be committing an offence and may be issued with a fixed penalty notice.
Each of Northern Ireland’s councils will not be obliged to avail of the new powers, but will be provided with the option to “opt in.”
At the full meeting of Ards and North Down Borough Council on Wednesday (July 30), DUP Councillor Alistair Cathcart said: “Anything to help and address antisocial behaviour is something I would welcome, and I would like us to “opt in” once it is approved.
“There is an awful lot more we can be doing on antisocial behaviour, if the PSNI were to have the correct powers. It is something the Justice Minister has to crack on and deliver – on criminal behaviour, orders with powers to disperse etcetera.
“Local police officers are crying out for those powers to tackle some of the antisocial behaviour issues that we raise in this chamber on an ongoing basis. This is one step forward, but I want to see a lot more powers to both the PSNI and the council.”
The Ards and North Down Lord Mayor, Alliance Councillor Gillian McCollum, said at the meeting: “Those of us on the Policing and Community Safety Partnerships are very familiar with these issues, and some of us are councillors in district electoral areas where this is an issue for them more than others. Those of us in Bangor Central, and indeed in Holywood and Clandeboye are frequently concerned for our residents who have significant issues with antisocial behaviour, and I would certainly endorse this – it is a welcome step forward, in the right direction.”
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