In 2012 we introduced a Designated Public Place Order (DPPO) to reduce and prevent alcohol related antisocial behaviour and violent crime in Bracknell town centre.
Legislative changes in October 2014 replaced this order with a new provision called a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO).
The Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 allows local authorities to make a PSPO to prohibit activities that may have a negative effect on the quality of life in an area.
To continue the success of the DPPO, we have replicated its conditions into a new PSPO. These conditions give the police extra powers to crack down on people who are drinking alcohol and are being disturbing or intimidating to others.
The order does not ban drinking in public places. It enables police officers and police community support officers to ask people to stop drinking or surrender their alcohol, where they believe alcohol-related nuisance is or is likely to occur within the designated area.
It is not a criminal offence to drink alcohol within the designated area. An offence is only committed if a person does not follow an officer’s requirements in respect of public drinking or the surrender of alcohol without reasonable excuse.
The PSPO allows police to target those individuals causing nuisance related to the consumption of alcohol. This would not affect those who are not causing a nuisance within the defined area.
A person who fails to keep to a requirement from a police officer or a police community support officers is liable to a fine.
