Decision details

The Corporate Director of Adult and Community Services introduced the report and stated that consultation from both the public and partners showed a majority support for a Borough-wide Designated Public Places Order (DPPO). The results from the consultation indicated that 94% (49/52) of residents were in favour of a Borough-wide DPPO.

There are currently three DPPOs within the Borough and requests have been made for a further five areas to tackle street drinking. The report therefore proposes that the Council adopts a Borough-wide DPPO.

Councillor Justice welcomed the report and the recommendations and asked whether the Order would cover those designated areas in front of the pubs containing tables and chairs where customers are presently able to drink without any restrictions. He further queried whether there has been a significant reduction in the current three DPPOs areas within the Borough.

The Corporate Director of Adult and Community Services responded that DPPOs are not to be seen as a ban on public drinking everywhere in the Borough, instead they are to be used by Police Officers to address alcohol related disorder proportionately. Experience has shown that the DDPOs that currently exist in three areas have helped in promoting a positive image for the Borough, improved behaviour on the streets and has reduced the level of alcohol consumption.

Councillor Alexander spoke in favour of the proposal and stated that in her role as the Cabinet Member for Safer and Stronger Communities, she actively had supported the implementation of a DPPO in Barking Town Centre and was pleased to see that the Police had successfully secured 1,091 alcohol seizures between May and August 2009. She further stated that a Borough-wide DPPO would clear the public’s confusion of where drinking was authorised and where it was not.

Councillor Denyer stated that although he supported the proposal in principle, he did not feel the results of the consultation were extensive or sufficiently conclusive to warrant imposing a Borough-wide DPPO, especially as there are approximately 400 licensed premises in the Borough, and this Order was being approved on the basis of only 32 licensee’s responses.

Whilst accepting the response to the consultation was relatively small, the Corporate Director of Adult and Community Services explained that the decision to recommend introducing a Borough-wide DPPO was taken in the light of a range of factors, not least the positive affect on the Borough’s crime statistics and the fact that the Police wholeheartedly support its introduction. In her view, the recommendation is based on sound judgement and evidence.

Councillor Bailey felt the proposed introduction of a Borough wide DPPO was an over the top reaction from this Labour Council especially it was this Labour Government who introduced 24 hour drinking leading to cheap accessible alcohol for young people in general.

Councillor Lee Waker, in support of the proposal, stated that the DPPOs in the Village and Eastbrook Wards had proved very popular with the public and had led to a significant reduction in problems of people drinking on the streets and causing general nuisance. He emphasised that the introduction of a DPPO did not automatically mean that people drinking will be prosecuted, but more importantly it would be used by the Police as a tool to address alcohol related anti-social behaviour and disorder.  

Councillor Mrs. Hunt commended the report and added that since the introduction of DPPOs, a lot of alcohol related anti-social behaviour had been removed from the once troubled area at Martin’s Corner.

Councillor Little summed up the debate by stating that a Borough-wide DPPO would not be the sole solution to eradicate rowdy drunken anti-social behaviour, but it would help Police Officers in knowing they had reasonable grounds of an offence being caused. It ultimately gives the Police the extra power of dealing with unreasonable behaviour.

The Chair moved that the proposal be put to a recorded vote which was seconded by Councillors Little, Alexander and L Waker.

The proposal was then put to the vote and was agreed as follows:

For:  Councillors Agrawal, Alexander, Barns, Carpenter, Collins, Fani, Flint, N Gill, R Gill,  Mrs Hunt, Kallar, Little, McDermott, McKenzie, Obasohan, Poulton, Mrs Reason, Mrs Rush, Vincent, L Waker, P. Waker, Mrs West and White

Against:  Councillors Bailey, Denyer and Mrs Knight

Abstain:  Councillor Justice