Could a geographical version of the Asbo be the answer to Bedford town centre's street drinking problem?

Bedford Borough Council wants your opinion on a proposed new Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) to tackle street drinking in Bedford town centre.

This PSPO would give the police and authorised officers powers to enforce against people breaking it.

It comes on the back of a wide-ranging consultation with the public in 2019 - carried out by the Bedford Borough Community Safety Partnership - with alcohol-related anti-social behaviour in the town as the key concern for people.

In response, the council is proposing a PSPO to cover the town centre from the Embankment in the south, St Cuthbert’s Street in the east, De Parys Avenue and Roff Avenue in the north, and Ashburnham Road in the west.

This PSPO would prohibit people drinking alcohol in these defined areas.

If approved, the PSPO would be enforced in a graduated way from asking the person to surrender the alcohol, issuing a Community Protection Notice, a criminal behaviour order, to issuing a fixed penalty notice.

Cllr Colleen Atkins, portfolio holder for community safety and regulatory services, said: “The proposed PSPO is aiming to tackle an issue that was identified by local people as a key concern for the town centre area, ie anti-social behaviour linked to alcohol."

Have your say on the proposal hereThe consultation closes at 9am on November 2.