Call to ban booze outside job centre

EVIDENCE is being gathered to support an application to ban people from drinking alcohol outside a job centre.

But police say an extension of the current alcohol restriction zone in Hanley is not something they are considering.

Police have received increased calls about anti-social behaviour in the Upper Huntbach Street area of Hanley since a Jobcentre Plus opened in March. They include complaints about drug-taking, street-drinking and gangs.

The centre was opened in March following the closures of the Job Centre in Cannon Street and the benefits office in http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/mytownstafford">Stafford Street. But the new office falls outside the city centre's alcohol-free zone.

Despite calls from residents for the alcohol ban to be extended to cover the job centre and surrounding streets, police say there is not enough evidence of drink-related problems to support a ban at the present time.

However, Eirian Jones, aged 55, who lives in St John Street, said anti-social behaviour in the neighbourhood has increased since the job centre opened.

He said: "There are people drinking outside from 7am and you see them taking drugs in broad daylight.

"I've had my bike stolen and house damaged, and other people in the street have suffered damage to property.

"I've had to put cameras up at the front of my house because it's got that bad.

"Something needs doing because people are getting sick of all the trouble. No-one would want this dumped on their doorsteps, like it has been on ours."

John Szymanski, aged 48, of Eaton Street, Northwood, said: "I think an alcohol ban would definitely help.

"I believe this is the only job centre in the country that is in a residential area. It's just not a suitable location for it."

But city centre neighbourhood commander, Inspector Shaun Kerrigan, said: "When the weather improves there might be more people sitting outside drinking and it could be then that we look at introducing a ban, but hopefully we will have resolved the issues by then.

"There is not enough evidence to support an alcohol restriction zone at present. We will continue to monitor the situation by providing high visibility patrols."

A spokesman for the Department For Work And Pensions said it was aware of issues raised and were working with community, businesses and police to address concerns.

Councillor Joan Bell, portfolio holder for community safety on the city council, said: "We are still in the process of gathering evidence regarding the possibility of an alcohol restriction zone in Upper Huntbach Street.

"We have to show we have explored every other option before a restriction zone can be approved."