STREET DRINKING BANS STILL IN FORCE

Lewes District Council has reminded residents and visitors that drinking alcohol in the streets and other public places is not allowed in certain areas of the district.

The drinking bans, which came into effect last year, cover the town centres of Lewes, Newhaven and Seaford and a number of areas in Peacehaven.

The bans mean that the police have powers to require any person who is drinking alcohol in a designated public place to stop and surrender the beverage in their possession. Failing to comply with such requirements can incur fines up to a maximum of 500.

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Councillor Elizabeth Lee, Lewes District Council Lead Member for the Community, said: "We are committed to ensuring that our district is a safe and pleasant place for everyone to live in and to reducing nuisance and annoyance caused by disorderly behaviour. We would like to point out, however, that the police will exercise their powers with discretion and will focus their attention on alcohol consumption likely to cause anti social behaviour."

The police are likely to target people who are drinking in areas designated by the ban and who are causing disorder or annoyance to members of the public. Public drinking in a designated public place will not automatically, therefore, attract the attention of the police. Consumption of alcohol at established events will not be penalised unless a public nuisance occurs which is associated with drinking.

Controlling anti social behaviour is a key priority for the Lewes District Crime Reduction Partnership, which is made up of Lewes District Council, Sussex Police, Sussex Police Authority, East Sussex County Council, East Sussex Fire Authority and the local Primary Care Trusts. The partnership also involves a wide variety of statutory, voluntary and community groups.