Alcohol ban to cover Leamington, Warwick and Kenilworth

The move does not mean people would no longer be able to enjoy a drink sitting outside licensed bars or cafes, but would give the police the power to confiscate alcohol in a public place if officers - or community support officers - believed the person consuming it was likely to create a nuisance to other people.

Bans are already in force in certain streets in Leamington, Lillington, Whitnash, Warwick and Kenilworth.

Any new order would take over from these but encompass the whole district.

Pete Cutts, community safety manager at the district council said: “It is recognised nationally that alcohol consumption is a major contributory factor to antisocial behaviour, violence and criminal damage.

“Alcohol abuse in Warwick district is a major and consistent public concern. There is support for the making of further orders covering specific areas in the district.

“But the making of further orders for specific areas could cause displacement, would be confusing to the public and more difficult for the council to enforce.

“In the circumstances the council has agreed, in principle, to make an order covering the whole district.”

Mr Cutts emphasised that the new order would not be an ouright ban on drinking alcohol. It would simply give the police more powers to act if they suspected those drinking were causing, or likely to cause a problem.