Booze-free zones extended in Wolverhampton
An alcohol ban has come into force outlawing drink from even more parts of the Black Country plagued by booze-fuelled trouble.
The Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) has been in operation in Wolverhampton since March 2017 and gives police powers to stop people from drinking and to surrender alcohol if they are causing, or likely to cause, anti-social behaviour.
The extension was agreed in July after consultation found overwhelming support for the measures, which have helped bring about a 35 percent reduction in calls about alcohol related incidents in the city over the last three years.
There were 1,202 incidents recorded in 2017/18 when the PSPO was first introduced, falling to 781 in 2019/20.
In addition to the city-wide prohibitions, an outright ban on street drinking in St Peter’s and Park wards, including the city centre, also came into effect on Thursday.
The only exceptions are for licensed premises within these wards which have beer gardens or pavement seating areas, and for temporary public events which have received prior approval from the council’s Licensing team.
Councillor Jasbir Jaspal, Wolverhampton Council’s cabinet member for public health and wellbeing, said the PSPO had generally had a very positive impact on the issue of people drinking in the streets in the city.
She said: “We want police to continue having these powers to tackle anti-social behaviour linked to alcohol consumption.”
