WINCHESTER civic chiefs are poised to continue a crackdown on public anti-social drunkenness in the city centre.

Councillors are being urged to approve the extension for another three years of an alcohol consumption public spaces protection order (PSPO).

For the last three years, this has given the police the power to confiscate alcohol from people drinking in public across the city.

The first alcohol exclusion zone in the city centre was instituted in 2004.

It is not a ban on drinking in public but can be used when there is anti-social behaviour and complaints from members of the public.

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The current order expires on September 14 and the licensing committee will discuss the issue on Tuesday September 5.

A report to the commitee said the council had consulted several groups this summer including the police,  the University of Winchester, Winchester BID Rangers, Winchester Beacon, Trinity Winchester, the Street Pastors and Winchester Cathedral.

There have been no objections to continuing the order.

The report said the option of not renewing the PSPO was rejected, as the evidence in this report and the feedback from the consultation showed that the consultees fully support the renewal of the PSPO. The report said: "It is considered to be a valuable tool in tackling alcohol fuelled anti-social behaviour".

Anecdotally, there is a correlation between alcohol-associated anti-social behaviour and detritus found within the same locations e.g. cans/glass bottles. Managing alcohol-fuelled anti-social behaviour and dealing with the littering issues in public places, helps to improve the environment for others who are visiting, working or living in Winchester.

Refusing to give up alcohol when requested by a police officer is a criminal offence, which can result in a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) of £100, or lead to prosecution.

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If found guilty, an individual can be fined up to a maximum of £1,000.

In the period between October 2020 and June 2023 Winchester saw 70 public order offences in relation to alcohol, drink and drugs.

Two FPNs were issued for non-compliance which would imply that current early interventions are working, said the report.

PSPOs are not intended to target individuals for anything other than alcohol-related anti-social behaviour which is having an unreasonable and detrimental effect on a person’s quality of life.

Historically, a local agreement between the police and city council allowed for the temporary disbandment of the order whilst events in the city take place, with a condition that it resume 24 hours after it ends e.g. the Hat Fair. It is proposed that this condition will not change within the extension.

'The city' is all the built-up area including Badger Farm and Harestock.