Shamed binge drinkers forced to clean up their own street mess by police in new zero tolerance crack

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Shamed binge drinkers forced to clean up their own street mess by police in new zero tolerance crackdown

 

 

By Paul Sims

Last updated at 4:10 PM on 03rd November 2009

 

 

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Bare-footed, drunk and humiliated this is the latest victim of a new zero tolerance approach to binge drinking and anti-social behaviour.

In an bid to reclaim the streets, revellers in Newcastle's city centre are now being forced to clean up their own mess.

Those who are caught urinating by police officers, being sick in the street or dropping litter are immediately stopped under the hard-hitting scheme.

They are then issued with a fixed penalty notice before being handed a disinfectant spray to clean the pavement - in front of other partygoers.

 

Payback: Northumbria Police officers stand on duty as a woman offender is made to clean urine and vomit from the streets of Newcastle

 

These pictures show a succession of red-faced revellers ordered to clean away their own mess after being caught by officers.

During the course of the operation – codenamed Jersey – five people were fined for littering, with a further 12 hit with fixed penalty notices for urinating in public.

Two people were summonsed for begging, while another was arrested and charged with the offence.

The operation was carried out in response to concerns raised by locals about late-night disorder and comes just weeks after a teaching assistant was pictured with knickers around her ankles in a further illustration of binge-drinking Britain.

Sergeant Claire Lawson, from Northumbria Police, said: 'This is all about making the city centre a safer, more pleasant place for everyone to enjoy.

'Although the type of behaviour targeted during this activity seems quite low level, these are things that impact on the enjoyment of those visiting the city centre and the quality of life of its residents, and are issues which have been brought to our attention.

 

Humiliated: A male offender cleans up mess in Newcastle

 

'Some of the offences can often lead to more serious crime and disorder and we hope that by working with our partners during these sorts of initiatives, we can nip people’s behaviour in the bud before it escalates. The areas targeted were identified as priorities by local residents.'

Since January 2009, police have warned or summonsed 607 people for urinating in public.

Water sprays were taken on the patrols and they were given to those caught short, so they could wash away their mess on-the-spot.

The patrols also gave the police and Newcastle City Council the opportunity to speak to people and get their views on the activity being carried out.

 

Drinker's haven: A group of men dressed up in drag party at a club in Biggs Market, Newcastle

 

 

 

Boozy: A man swigs an alcopop the a Newcastle club

 

Sgt Lawson added: 'We’ll continue to work with our partners to take action against the minority of people who insist on acting in an anti-social way by dropping litter or being abusive to others. One of the key concerns of residents is people urinating in the street; it’s not pleasant for them to have to put up with the smell.

'All of the city’s pubs and clubs have toilet facilities, so there really shouldn’t be any need for people to commit this offence.

'Quite often it is simply laziness on the part of offenders, and a false perception that this is an acceptable practice. It isn’t.'

The patrols were also staged to make law-abiding revellers – both locals and travelling partygoers – feel safe in the city at night.

Sgt Lawson added: 'It’s not all about taking enforcement action, it’s also about reassuring people and being an additional support for the city centre during what is often a busy time of the week. We’re there for people to talk to about any concerns they may have.'

 

Party on: Young people drinking in a bar in Newcastle

 

The operation was carried out to mark the start of 'Not In My Neighbourhood Week'.

It runs throughout this week and highlights the work taking place in communities by police, local agencies and other partners to tackle the offences that give the public the most heartache.

It comes after teaching assistant Sarah Lyons was pictured in Cardiff city centre with a pair of knickers around her ankles. Experts have warned that British women are now binge drinking twice as much as any other nation.

Police in the city, where boozing often spills over into violence, have now launched new powers that will enable them to confiscate alcohol from unruly outdoor drinkers and arrest them if they fail to comply.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1224929/Police-make-drunken-revellers-clean-vomit-urine-crackdown-Binge-Britain-filth.html#ixzz0Vp2oemTz