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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Ryan Merrifield

Brits can now be fined for drinking at bus stops and memorials in new booze law crackdown

The Tory government is set to clamp down on anti-social behaviour with drinking alcohol at bus stops and war memorials to be banned in a throwback to New Labour under Tony Blair.

Graffiti vandals will also be forced to scrub away any mess within 48 hours of getting caught, while litter bugs will be put into 'chain gangs' and made to tidy up local areas.

The strategy is also set to include banning the sale and possession of laughing gas, and cracking down on fly-tipping.

It is part of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's new offensive on disorder and will see more funding for police patrols in areas where people tend to loiter and commit petty crimes.

As well as tougher and swifter punishments, the action plan will focus on supporting young people to get into sports and other activities.

Litter bugs could see themselves forced onto chain gangs to help keep communities clean (BirminghamLive)

The scheme is similar to that introduced by ex-Labour Party leader Blair in 1998, considered a flagship policy of his government just months after he became PM.

Sunak is set to unveil his own version next week just weeks away from local elections in May, reports the Sun.

It comes after Labour announced a series of policy pledges of its own targeting reducing crime.

Rishi Sunak is keen to tackle anti-social behaviour (PA)

Sir Keir Starmer has even revived the New Labour slogan promising to be "tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime".

The leader of the Opposition wants to raise confidence in policing and the justice system following the damning Baroness Casey report into the Met Police.

She was put in charge of reviewing the force in light of the murder and rape of Sarah Everard by serving officer Wayne Couzens.

Tony Blair made clamping down on petty crime a flagship policy of his original Labour government in 1998 (NEWCASTLE CHRONICLE)

Sir Keir said Labour will also prioritise "fighting the virus that is anti-social behaviour: fly-tipping, off-road biking in rural areas, drugs".

Polls suggest anti-social behaviour is a key concern for voters ahed of the general election next year.

Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove has been tasked with drawing up the cross-departmental plans.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has spoken of similar policy promises recently (PA)

A Government spokesman told the Daily Mail: "Making our communities a better and safer place to live is a key part of our levelling-up agenda.

"And because we know anti-social behaviour can make life miserable for so many, we’ll shortly publish an action plan outlining how we’ll work tirelessly across government to tackle it.

"This will focus on swifter justice for victims and tougher punishments for offenders, as well as supporting young people into sports and other activities.

"We are already injecting record funds into policing and recruiting an additional 20,000 police officers. Our safer streets fund is also putting money into local projects to help tackle neighbourhood crime and anti-social behaviour."

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