Anti-social Behaviour
New powers to curb public drinking and prostitution
| This document is published for archival/historical purposes. It will not be updated. |
From 1 September 2001 powers contained within the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 made available instruments to ban public drinking and stop the placing of prostitutes’ cards in public telephone boxes.
The 2000 British Crime Survey showed that victims considered offenders to be under the influence of alcohol in 40% of incidents.
Powers brought in under the Act mean that Local authorities can ban public drinking in specified public areas where they are satisfied that drinking in this area has caused a nuisance, annoyance or public disorder. In a designated area a police officer can stop a person drinking and force the surrender of alcohol in the drinker’s possession. Before an order is granted the local authority must consult with the local police, licence holders and parish councils. Some local authorities have been using bylaws that include confiscation of alcohol in specific places, but the new legislation make the powers available nationwide.
The powers also make it a specific offence to place an advertisement relating to prostitution in a public telephone box (the offence may also be extended to other public structures, for example bus shelters). Around 13 million such cards are produced each year and BT estimate that it removes 150 000 cards in central London alone. The police have the power of arrest over individuals placing the adverts. The maximum penalty for the offence is a fine of £5000 or a six month prison sentence.
The primary intention of the measures is to deal with the nuisance and distress caused to the public when prostitutes ply their trade in the streets and to penalise those who seek to encourage, control or exploit the prostitution of others.
To find out more about the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001, click here
Last update: Tuesday, August 26, 2008