New measures to tackle alcohol-related anti-social behaviour in Abingdon are being introduced next week.

The Abingdon Designated Public Places Order (DPPO), which will come into effect on Wednesday, May 20, is being introduced by the Vale of White Horse District Council to help police deal with problems caused by people who behave anti-socially as a result of drinking.

The order means that a police officer, police community support officer or special constable has the power to ask someone to hand over their alcohol, including any unopened containers, if they are behaving anti-socially or are likely to do so.

Anti-social behaviour can include violence, criminal damage and disorderly conduct.

If the person refuses to give up their alcohol they could be arrested and fined up to £500.

A police spokesman said the order was not a ban on drinking alcohol in public places – it only becomes an offence to carry on drinking alcohol if an officer asks you to stop. This means the new powers will not affect anyone who is drinking responsibly in a public place.

Liz Hayden, community safety manager at the Vale council, said: “We are working hard to ensure that Abingdon is a place where people feel safe and are not bothered or intimidated by others behaving anti-socially.

"Introducing these measures not only helps police tackle these problems efficiently and effectively, it also sends out a clear message that anti-social drinking will not be tolerated in the town so should prevent such problems from developing in the first place.”

Chief Inspector Andy Boyd, Local Police Area Commander for the Vale of White Horse, added: “These new powers will not affect anyone who drinks responsibly in the town.

"It is a measure that can help us to protect people from being disturbed by the inconsiderate behaviour of people who behave anti-socially as a result of drinking alcohol.

"We are working closely with the Council and the community to ensure that Abingdon remains a very safe place to live and work.”

The DPPO will be applied to the whole of Abingdon to ensure that problems are not displaced from one area of town to another.

The decision to introduce the DPPO followed a report to the council from police which analysed the levels of alcohol-related disorder in the town. This report revealed that 43 per cent of incidents of nuisance behaviour in public places in Abingdon were related to alcohol.

Plans to introduce these new powers were issued for public consultation last year and received significant public backing. The DPPO is also supported by Abingdon Town Council.

More information about the DPPO, including a leaflet and a series of questions and answers explaining the new powers, can be found on the website www.whitehorsedc.gov.uk