Drinking in public places such as war memorials and bus stops is set to be banned as part of a new government crackdown on anti-social behaviour. The Mirror reports the law change will be enforced from Monday as part of a package of measures that will also see graffiti vandals marched back to the scene of their crime and forced to clean up their mess within 48 hours of being caught.
Police will be able to issue on-the-spot fines and drug tests in a bid to see offences swiftly punished, according to The Sun. Other minor offences to be punished include various littering misdeeds such as discarding chewing gum or cigarette ends.
New funding will help the authorities patrol local areas where gangs tend to congregate, such as playgrounds. The patrols will also be on the lookout for those who are disposing of nitrous oxide canisters on the ground.
Tougher measures will also be handed out to those who engage in fly-tipping and further proposals are being considered in relation to confiscating benefits from families with children who play truant from school. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is due to launch the new initiative after vowing to crack down on disorderly public behaviour.
He said police require police additional powers to tackle disruptive behaviour, which he sees as a "gateway to more extreme crimes". The new measures will align with his previous promise to ensure crimes are "quickly and visibly punished".
The powers will be extended beyond police forces, to mayors and town halls, in a bid to ensure authorities are well-equipped to tackle nuisance crimes that are negatively affecting communities. Under the new measure, offenders will be hit with community service punishments just hours after their offences instead of going through the often lengthy court process.
Many have compared the measures to the Antisocial Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) introduced by former Prime Minister Tony Blair in 1998.
