PLANS to give police and council officers tough new powers designed to curb street drinking in Bradford city centre have been backed by businesses following a major consultation.

A proposal for a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) would give the authorities extra powers to intervene and confiscate alcohol or intoxicating substances, including legal highs, if people are seen using them.

The initial proposed boundary would cover Bradford city centre, extending in the north of the city centre to Hanover Square, in the west up to Dirk Hill, including part of Little Horton, and Little Germany in the East.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: ORDER: A map of the proposed area to be covered by proposed Public Space Protection Order

But, following a six-week public consultation held earlier this year involving businesses, landowners and residents within the proposed boundary, it is recommended to be extended to include Bradford College’s Trinity Green campus, Dixon’s Trinity Academy, in Trinity Road, and other streets such as Rand Street, Rand Place and Alexandra Street and St Luke’s Hospital.

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The public consultation received 170 submissions through an online survey, or telephone, with the majority in favour of the move.

A total of 84 per cent of respondents backed the use of the PSPO to stop people using intoxicating substances in the area shown in the map.

A total of 85 per cent of respondents supported the use of a PSPO to stop people continuing to drink alcohol when asked to stop drinking by an authorised officer.

The public feedback on the PSPO will be discussed by Bradford Council’s Regulatory and Appeals Committee meeting on Thursday, September 29, and it has been recommended for approval. A Bradford Council spokesman said if agreed, the order would be in place from December 1 this year.

The aim of a PSPO is to reduce anti-social behaviour resulting from people taking intoxicating substances.

Officers, including police officers, community support officers and Bradford Council’s anti-social behaviour officers, would also have the power to issue a fixed penalty notice of £100 if the offenders refused to co-operate.

The rules are a step up from a Designated Public Place Order (DPPOs), which currently exists in Bradford city centre. The DPPOs will automatically become PSPOs in October next year but the council is looking to bring the new orders in a year earlier to tackle anti-social behaviour as soon as possible.

Cllr Abdul Jabar, Bradford Council’s executive member for community safety, said the PSPO would make the city centre safer for visitors.

He said: “It is important that people feel safe and happy to come here and go shopping or visit attractions and not feel harassed or threatened in any way.

“A PSPO will enable us to take more action to tackle anti-social problems in the city centre and make it an environment that feels safer.

“Bradford is a great city, a welcoming city, and we don’t want anything to deter from that.”

Business owners and groups have also backed the order proposal.

Val Summerscales, secretary of the Bradford and District Chamber of Trade, said: “We are happy to support it.

“What happens in the city centre does affect the business community.

“Another tier of enforcement should make it easier to deal with anti-social behaviour.

“We want everyone to enjoy the city centre and the surrounding areas.

“There have been reports of people walking around City Park causing anti-social behaviour.

“This was not what it was intended for. It is meant to be somewhere nice for people to come to. It has been interrupted by people drinking far too much. This has led to anti-social behaviour.”

Saira Jabeen, manager of the Pavilion cafe in City Park, said: “Having this order will make it easier for the police and council officers.

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“I feel safe here and have not had any problems myself. I don’t think it’s a big issue.

“We don’t really have any trouble over our side of City Park, I think it is more over in Centenary Square.

“The police and council have worked really hard to make it a safer place for everybody.

“I have seen drunken people but you will get them in every city centre.”

Qaisar Sheikh, co-owner of Rimmingtons Pharmacy, Bridge Street, Bradford, also supported the order plans but said anti-social behaviour in Bradford city centre had improved over the last three years.

A city centre business owner, who did not wish to be named, said: “I think anti-social behaviour does deter decent people from coming into Centenary Square. That means it’s going to have an impact on our business.”

The proposal has also been supported by the police.

In a letter, sent as part of the public consultation, West Yorkshire Police’s temporary chief constable Dee Collins and West Yorkshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner Mark Burns-Willliamson, said: “West Yorkshire Police and the office of the Police and Crime Commissioner support the introduction of a PSPO for the area of Bradford city centre as defined by the circulated map.

“The PSPO will complement the existing intervention work that Bradford City Centre Neighbourhood Policing Team have delivered using dispersal powers to tackle issues relating to anti-social behaviour, drinking and legal highs.

“It will also work alongside recent legislation introduced to combat the use of psychoactive substances, legal highs.”