Controlled Drinking Zone extended throughout Islington

Published: 20th May, 2011
by PETER GRUNER

A TOUGH new clampdown on boozing linked to rowdiness in Islington’s streets has been agreed by Town Hall chiefs following a public consultation.

Sixty-seven per cent of respondents wanted to see a borough-wide controlled drinking zone (CDZ), which gives police extra powers to deal with drinking  in the street. New street signs will warn that anyone carrying an open container of alcohol can be forced to hand it over to police.

There are already five CDZs in Islington – the first introduced in 2007 – in Clerkenwell, around the Emirates Stadium, in Sunnyside Gardens and Elthorne Park, Upper Holloway, Kinloch Gardens, Holloway, and Grimaldi Park, King’s Cross.

Labour councillor Claudia Webbe, a member of Islington’s licensing committee, said the new scheme will mean that police can now take action in any part of the borough.

“Police will have the powers to confiscate alcohol or stop people drinking where they believe there is a nuisance,” she said. “What was happening with the current CDZ system is that you could stop someone drinking in one area where it is controlled and they could walk across the road and carry on drinking elsewhere in the borough.”

Cllr Webbe said that in her Bunhill ward there was an emerging problem with drinkers causing anti-social behaviour around the City Road area. 

“We have more licensed premises than ever before as well as an overspill of drinkers from Shoreditch,” she said.

“More and more residents are complaining about noise and people urinating outside their homes.”

Action is also being taken to tackle rowdy under-age drinkers who have been causing trouble between Holloway and Caledonian Road.

The clampdown on teenage drinking comes under a new Community Action Partnership, thought to be the first scheme of its kind in London.

 Police and the council have joined forces with Tesco and other retailers in a bid to stop booze being sold to under-age drinkers.

They will also curb so-called “proxy sales”, where adults buy alcohol for children.

Labour crime chief Councillor Barbara Sidnell said: “Young people are drinking more and starting younger so we are taking firm action to tackle under-age sales and the problems caused by alcohol. 

“Residents are fed up with booze-fuelled, anti-social behaviour on their streets and estates. 

“We intend to crack down on those who sell alcohol to children and on those adults who purchase alcohol on behalf of children.”

Liberal Democrat opposition leader Councillor Terry Stacy fully supports action which he says builds on “firm foundations” that were laid down by the previous Lib Dem administration.

He added, however, that, while the borough-wide CDZ was a good idea, government cuts might make it difficult for police and the Town Hall to fund it effectively. 

“We are campaigning for a saturation policy in Upper Street,” he said. “That means giving no new licences to any more pubs and clubs as there are enough already.”

As well as stopping children buying alcohol, the clampdown will use drama workshops to educate teenagers about the dangers of binge drinking.

Groups of young drinkers will be challenged by police and park patrols.