Town centre alcohol prevention order extended

Cheshire East councillor asks for extension of public drinking order in Macclesfield.

At a meeting of Cheshire East’s environment and communities committee, Councillor Ashley Farrell requested an extension of the public spaces protection order (PSPO) for a further period of three years.

The order enables police and authorised officers to stop the drinking of alcohol in the town centre or remove alcohol from anyone considered likely to cause anti-social behaviour.

Cllr Farrall told the meeting that the current PSPO has been a valuable and effective tool since its implementation in July 2022.

He said “Residents and businesses were constantly reporting issues of alcohol-fuelled disorder, each causing alarm or intimidation and a general decline in the public environment.

“We knew that if we were going to reclaim our town centre as a safe, welcoming space, a focused, fair intervention was needed. Since then, the PSPO has delivered results.”

He claimed the total number of anti-social behaviour incidents had dropped by more than 65% since the order had been in place, alcohol-related incidents had more than halved and in the first three months of this year there had been just two alcohol-related incidents recorded.

“These are not just statistics, they represent real improvements for the people who live, work and visit the town centre every day,” said the Macclesfield councillor.

“Importantly, the order has been used proportionately and sensitively.

“No fixed penalty notices have been issued under the order.

“This is a tool, not for criminalising vulnerable individuals, it’s a mechanism for early, calm, preventative action that empowers our officers to step in before behaviour escalates.”

He added: “And I want to be clear on one point, this order is not and will not be used to criminalise rough sleepers, people experiencing homelessness in our town.

“The aim is to address anti-social behaviour, not to penalise people experiencing homelessness.”

Councillor Liz Braithwaite said the PSPO was “a valuable tool for police and enforcement officers to both tackle and deter the ASB associated with problem drinking.”

The committee voted to extend the PSPO for three years, meaning it will expire in July 2028.