Geographical version of the Asbo to tackle street drinking comes into force in Bedford

The geographical version of the Asbo - called a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) - is being introduced to tackle street drinking and related anti-social behaviour in Bedford.

Bedford Borough Council has approved the PSPO following public consultation - and it will come into force from tomorrow (Wednesday, December 16) and is set to remain in place for three years initially.

It will prohibit people consuming alcohol or having an open container of alcohol in the defined area, to prevent anti-social behaviour.

It covers the town centre from the Embankment in the south, St Cuthbert’s Street in the east, Landsdowne Road, Roff Avenue and De Parys Avenue in the north, and Ashburnham Road in the west.

The order gives the police and authorised officers powers to enforce against those breaking it. This enforcement can range from asking the person to surrender the alcohol, issuing a Community Protection Notice, a criminal behaviour order, to issuing a fixed penalty notice.

This PSPO proposal followed a wide-ranging consultation by the Bedford Borough Community Safety Partnership in 2019, where alcohol-related anti-social behaviour in the town centre came back as a key concern for people.

In the consultation to introduce it, 90.7 per cent of the 500 respondents agreed or strongly agreed with the proposal.

Cllr Colleen Atkins, portfolio holder for community safety and regulatory services, said: “This PSPO is set to come into force tomorrow, after overwhelming support was shown in the consultation.

“Street drinking and related anti-social behaviour is a key concern for local people. This order will give the Police and other officers the powers to enforce against people drinking alcohol or having an open container of alcohol in the town centre area and reduce anti-social behaviour, tackling an issue that was identified as a problem."