'Booze Asbos' welcomed by police and licensees in Colchester

Yesterday, police and councils were given the right to apply for drinking banning orders against anyone aged 16 or over who regularly commits crime or antisocial behaviour while drunk.

The so-called “booze Asbos” give magistrates the power to impose whatever conditions they think are necessary to curb offenders’ alcohol-fuelled behaviour. Yobs could find themselves banned from drinking in public places barred from certain pubs and clubs.

Even local off-licences could be banned from serving them.

The orders can run for between two months and two years, with breaches of the order leading to fines of as much as £2,500.

Insp Paul Butcher, of the Colchester town policing team, said: “Drinking banning orders will help us crack down on those who repeatedly commit alcohol-related violent crime and disorder.

“In Colchester, we have a very successful Behave or Be Banned scheme, which has made inroads into keeping offenders out of the pubs and clubs and in reducing crime in the town centre.

“However, the drinking banning order takes us a massive step forward and will help us further reduce crime and keep troublemakers away. We want our town centre to be as safe as possible and will be actively looking for opportunities to apply for orders as soon as the legislation becomes available.”

Mr Butcher added: “If you are a persistent offender, you could find yourself banned from the town at night – and if you are stupid enough to breach the order, you will find yourself back in a cell and then before a court.

“We are hoping the orders will prove a significant deterrent and make people think twice about their behaviour. The message to potential candidates is, ‘modify your behaviour before it is too late. We will be watching.’”

Anyone given a Drinking Banning Order can also be ordered on to a Positive Behaviour Intervention Course to help them overcome problem drinking – a course they would have to pay for themselves.