Alcohol action plan

Following discussions with the PCT and Cheshire Police, council chiefs have put forward their ideas for a ten-point plan to tackle alcohol and anti-social behaviour problems in Warrington. Now they want to hear from YOU as to what more can be done to solve these issues. The following actions are being proposed:

1. Draw up a Code of Conduct setting out what is and isn’t acceptable behaviour and run a high-profile campaign to tell visitors to Warrington that the ‘party is over’. The Code would be communicated to everyone on a night out in the town and would aim to stamp out poor behaviour, including vomiting and urinating in the street, fighting and violence and verbal abuse. Tough measures would be taken against anyone breaching the Code.

2. Introduce a new specialist policing unit for the town centre which will focus on policing nighttime activities in Warrington and ensure an enhanced police presence at the busiest times. This will also include improved links between the CCTV control centre and police officers on the street to target problems quickly.

3. Work with all licensed operators, including from bars and late-night food outlets, to agree a Charter which would promote compliance with licence conditions and high standards of behaviour. Again, tough measures would be taken against any licensed premises breaching the Charter.

4. All door staff on licensed premises have to attain minimum standards of training and conduct which they must adhere to or face being reported to the Security Industries Authority to take action on their licences. This has already been used successfully to take action against individuals.

5. Work with taxi operators to introduce a new network of ‘taxi marshalls’ to manage taxi ranks and clamp down on minor incidents and poor behaviour in the queues. We will also ensure that taxis and private hire vehicles comply with their licences.

6. Officers from the police, trading standards, licensing, health, environmental health, fire and outreach services will work together and use their licensing powers to impose good practice and share intelligence about ‘hotspots’ for enforcement.

7. Consider adopting a ‘name and shame’ approach to those breaching the Code of Conduct or being detained for any offences. This could include releasing CCTV images of those who persistently break the Code to highlight the behaviour which will not be tolerated in Warrington.

8. Investigate the closure of Lower Bridge Street to all vehicles from 10pm to 5am. We propose to consult on banning all taxis and other motor vehicles from entering the new ‘pedestrianised zone’ around Lower Bridge Street, Friars Gate and part of Academy Way. This would cut down on the potential dangers of cars and late night pedestrians congregating outside bars.

9. Examine ways to get people away from the town centre more easily at the end of the night, for example by laying on night buses at weekends, reviewing late night train services and entering into discussions with the taxi and private hire firms to put more cabs on the streets at key hours.

10.  Lobby Warrington’s MPs to look at additional legislation relating to enforcement powers and the regulation of the retail industry to hold people accountable for the sale and promotion of cheap alcohol. 

Leader of the council, Ian Marks, said: “These are very practical steps that all agencies are proposing in order to make a real difference to the way we tackle the issues of alcohol and anti-social behaviour in Warrington. It’s time to get tough and set out the kinds of behaviour that we will not tolerate in the borough, and make it clear to those who come to Warrington for anything other than a great night out that they’re no longer welcome. Warrington has so much to offer and we want to improve the night-time economy so that more people are attracted to our safe streets, well-managed premises and appealing leisure opportunities.”

He continued: “These are our ideas but I’m sure there are other measures that people would like to see introduced so this is the chance for everyone to tell us what more we could be doing to address these issues.”