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Opinions are being gathered on whether to ban alcohol from the streets of Haverhill town centre to reduce anti-social behaviour after a similar ban in Bury St Edmunds made a noticeable difference to levels of petty crime and vandalism.

The ban would work in a similar way to the Bury St Edmunds byelaw, making it an offence to drink alcohol in certain parts of the town centre and allowing police officers to confiscate and dispose of alcohol in both sealed and open containers. Anyone who refuses to hand over their alcohol when asked could be arrested and / or fined up to £500. The byelaw doesn’t prevent people from sitting outside to enjoy a drink at properly licensed cafes, bars and restaurants.

St Edmundsbury Borough Council is carrying out a consultation into the proposal and is asking people what they think. You can fill in a questionnaire online or send your views by post, outlining whether you agree with the proposed ban, the reasons for your opinion and any other measures you think could be introduced to tackle anti-social behaviour in the town.

Cllr Sara Mildmay-White, St Edmundsbury Borough Council cabinet member for Community said:

‘This is an excellent example of agencies working together to tackle concerns from Haverhill residents about the level of petty crime and anti-social behaviour in the town centre linked to alcohol. I welcome this opportunity to get the views of the community on this proposal and would encourage everyone to make their views known’.

If you are sending your answers by post, please address them to Helen Lindfield, Community Safety Officer, St Edmundsbury Borough Council, Borough Offices, Angel Hill, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 1XB or email helen.lindfield@stedsbc.gov.uk
The online questionnaire can be found at: