Bognor shops urged to refuse to serve anti-social drinkers

The list of 12 individuals was handed out at a meeting between police officers and those who run off-licences around the town.

Inspector Clare McKnight said she hoped the licensees would refuse to serve those whose names and photographs appeared on the list.

"I hope the licensees will not serve people who are drunk but also that they don't serve people who they know are going to cause anti-social behaviour," she said.

"You are talking about people who are buying drink at 8am, 9am or 10am. What we are trying to do is to stop them getting hold of alcohol."

She said the meeting at Bognor police station had gone well but the police could not stop them serving customers as long as the licensees obeyed the law.

"It is a matter for the individual shops to determine who they sell their goods to and, obviously, adhering to the Licensing Act as well," Insp McKnight said. "We can only advise."

Data protection laws mean those on the list could not be publicly identified, she stated.

The session was the latest measure in a newly-launched campaign by Insp McKnight against anti-social behaviour fuelled by excessive drinking in public.

The Observer previously reported how Insp McKnight's community policing team had cracked down on the abuse of the town centre Sunken Gardens by those who used it as an open-air drinking venue.

She said she was aware the preferred site for those who wanted to drink themselves into a stupor had switched to Longbrook Park just inside the Felpham boundary.

She pledged her officers would repeat their actions there to make life uncomfortable for those who broke the law by drinking in public.

"We will not hesitate to confiscate alcohol and we will carry on doing that," she pledged. "We want to make sure Bognor is a very hostile place for those who want to come here and cause anti-social behaviour."

Praise for inspector's work

PRAISE for the work of Insp McKnight and her team of officers came from a range of councillors.

The members of the Joint Western Arun area committee congratulated Insp McKnight for her swift action within the first month of her appointment.

The thanks came from members of the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats.

They stressed their support for the police after their intense criticisms of the previous meeting.

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