Police clamp down on street drinking

Date published: 16 August 2007

Police intend to clamp down on drinkers flouting the boroughwide drinking ban outside Rochdale’s pubs and licensees allowing them to do so following complaints made to Partners and Communities Together, a board made up of the police, council and local businesses.

Apparently smokers, prevented from lighting up inside due to the new nationwide ban, are flouting the local by-law banning on-street drinking.

Inspector James Troisi said: "Knowing that they are not allowed to drink, these people have begun to slip outside with their bottles and glasses.

"There are only three bars in the town centre where people are allowed to drink outside.

"These are the Litten Tree, Regal Moon and Bar Five so we shouldn’t be seeing anyone drinking outside other venues."

"We will be asking them to look out for anyone drinking outside and anyone who is caught out will have their drink taken away and they could get prosecuted.

"We will however be focusing on the licensees who allow these people to get away with it.

"We already work with the pub and club watch but we would also like to see more licensees attend these meetings to help resolve the problem."