COUNCILLORS have given their backing to tough new powers designed to curb street drinking and the use of legal highs in Bradford city centre.

Members of Bradford Council's Regulatory and Appeals Committee agreed that the authority should proceed in its application to impose Public Space Protection Orders (PSPO) in areas such as City Park.

A consultation period of at least six weeks will now take place before a more detailed report on the proposed new measures goes back before the committee later this year.

In her report to committee members, Rebecca Trueman, community safety co-ordinator for the Council, said: "The new power to create a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) can specify an area where activities are taking place that are, or may likely be, detrimental to the local community's quality of life.

"A PSPO can impose conditions or restrictions on people using that area."

She told the meeting yesterday: "Bradford is no worse than any other city centre across the country, but we want to be proactive."

After consultation with police, the committee heard that the misuse of alcohol and legal highs were the most frequent "higher level repetitive elements of anti-social behaviour" affecting the city centre.

If brought in, PSPOs, which would replace Designated Public Place Orders, would give police and council officers the powers to confiscate alcohol and legal highs and issue fixed penalty notices of up to £100.

Councillor Shakeela Lal (Lab, City), said it was vital to ensure that the new orders didn't drive those causing the anti-social behaviour into other areas of the city.

"It is all good and well protecting the city centre, but we are squeezing these people into heavily-residential areas such as Great Horton Road.

"We tackle one area, and it spills over into another.

"Most beggars have been pushed out of the city centre, what is being done about that?"

Councillor Alan Wainwright (Lab, Tong), asked whether the PSPO powers could be widened to include people riding bikes and skateboards in an anti-social manner, causing a "general nuisance" to those visiting the city centre.

The Council said the initial PSPOs would just be focused on restricting the use of alcohol and legal highs, but added that the orders could be reviewed after six months, with extra offences able to be added if there was enough evidence to do so from the Council and police.