§ Richard BurdenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what assessment he has made of the effectiveness in tackling antisocial behaviour by the designation by local community safety partnerships of alcohol-free zones in public places; [142106]
(2) if he will list the local authorities which have banned the consumption of alcohol in designated public places where the premises concerned are not licensed. [142407]
§ Ms BlearsSection 12–16 of the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 (CJPA) came into force on 1 September 2001. The provisions in the Act allow local authorities to designate areas to restrict public drinking where there is evidence that nuisance is alcohol related. In such designated areas the police may use their discretionary powers to confiscate all alcohol where they reasonably believe that continued drinking in that place will lead to further disorder or nuisance. An assessment has not been undertaken on the effectiveness of designation orders.
Under the CJPA a place is not a designated public place or a part of such a place if it is a licensed premises or a registered club. As of June 2003, over 70 local authorities had notified the Home Office that they have made designation orders under Section 13 of the CJPA to restrict antisocial public drinking in areas that have experienced alcohol-related disorder or nuisance. The local authorities were listed in the response given to my hon. Friend the Member for City of Durham (Mr. Steinberg) on 18 June 2003, Official Report, column 257W.