Police in Hartlepool Launch Operation Sunshine To Tackle Anti Social Street Drinking

Hartlepool Neighbourhood Police teams are determined to ensure that everybody can enjoy their neighbourhood free from intimidation this summer.

As the light nights set in and people become more inclined to enjoy a drink outside, Police in Hartlepool are cracking down on alcohol related anti-social behaviour and have launched Operation Sunshine, a scheme that highlights and focuses on the 200 streets across the town that have Designated Public Place Orders (DPPO’s).

Designated Public Place Orders are council-led initiatives which were launched in January of this year. They enable Police Officers and Police Community Support Officers to take proactive, timely interventions to deal with or prevent alcohol related disorder or nuisances in certain areas across the town that have been plagued with problems in the past.

Neighbourhood Policing Inspector at Hartlepool Michael Brown said: “Drinking on hot days can often be the pre-cursor to criminal damage. We are launching Operation Sunshine to address the balance and ensure that people and families can enjoy their neighbourhoods, whilst hammering home the message that alcohol related anti-social behaviour and criminal offences will not be tolerated.

He added: “If we believe a person has been or intends to consume alcohol in an area covered by a Designated Public Place Order, Police Officers and Police Community Support Officers have the right to confiscate and dispose of the alcohol or any container that might be used to hold alcohol. This will enable us to combat any problems from people who act irresponsibly when drinking before they can occur.”

Hartlepool is the first local authority in the Cleveland Police area and one of only a handful of councils nationwide to adopt Designated Public Place Orders. Since the launch in January over 70 individuals have been spoken to under the legislation but no arrests as yet have been made. This shows that people are responding well to the legislation and it’s having a positive impact overall on the local community.

The Designated Public Place Orders are not town-wide, the Safer Hartlepool Partnership consulted with members of the public and analysed data to highlight areas where there is a proven link between the consumption of alcohol and alcohol fuelled disorder and placed DPPO’s in these areas.

Signs are in place at streets covered by Designated Public Place Orders and leaflets have been issued to households in DPPO areas. However more information and maps of areas covered are available from local authority and neighbourhood policing team offices or by visiting the Neighbourhood Policing link on this site.