WEST Devon Borough councillors will be asked on Monday to support an alcohol exclusion zone in Tavistock town centre streets, giving the police extra powers to crack down on anti-social behaviour. The new legislation will enable officers to deal with the nuisance caused by groups of over 18s drinking on the street and in the park. Currently, police can only stop people if they are becoming drunk and disorderly or commit a public order offence. But a Designated Public Place Order (DPPO), which the borough council will be asked to make, means any alcohol being consumed can be seized at the officers' discretion. The order has been sought by the police and supported by Tavistock Town Council, who have discussed implementing a ban on alcohol several times over the past ten years. Increased police presence at the weekends, mystery testing for underage purchases of alcohol from local outlets and the effective use of licensing conditions and enforcement where necessary have been tried to address public concern, but still a third of all crime in the town centre is alcohol-related, the majority of it criminal damage. Alcohol exclusion zones are currently in place in Bere Alston and Callington and in some towns in Devon. If approval is granted by the borough council, the order is expected to be implemented by September 1, following the publication of notices and a 28-day consultation period. The borough council will meet the cost of advertising and provision of 60 signs, which will go up in the town centre, estimated to cost in the region of £3,000. Neighbourhood team leader for Tavistock Sgt Dave Anning said the new order would simplify things for the police because alcohol could now be confiscated if it was being consumed in public. At the moment, various factors had to be at play for the alcohol to be seized: 'It actually takes the uncertainty out of the equation but the order also gives us some discretion. For example, if the vicar wants a party at the church we do not have to enforce the order and it's okay for someone to walk through the town with a four-pack if they are on their way home.' Sgt Anning said incidents of anti-social behaviour had reduced since a dedicated PCSO was assigned to Tavistock: 'The PCSOs have a much more visible presence. It is their job to walk around the area and be seen, and it does make a difference.' He said the DPPO would help the police further in trying to tackle what was 'a core issue'. Chairperson of the South Devon and Dartmoor Crime and Disorder Partnership Mandy Govier, who is also a town and borough councillor, said it had taken a long time to get this far but she was glad it was finally happening. 'West Devon Police and the town council have listened to concerns of residents, visitors and shopkeepers in the centre of the town and feel that a DPPO will be another effective tool to combat disorder, wanton criminal damage and anti-social behaviour in the town. 'I welcome it because it gives the police more powers to use their discretion and take alcohol off people on the street. Hopefully, it will stop some of the incidents in the Meadows, Bank Square and around the streets. 'DPPOs are predominantly designed to stop people drinking early in the evening so it does not turn into a problem late at night.'
