Crack down on anti-social street drinkers in Castleford leads to six arrests

Police are cracking down on anti-social street drinking and disorder in Castleford after ordering offenders to leave the town centre or face arrest.
Police in Castleford issued a 48 hour order to tackle the problem of street drinkers in parts of the town centre. Picture: GooglePolice in Castleford issued a 48 hour order to tackle the problem of street drinkers in parts of the town centre. Picture: Google
Police in Castleford issued a 48 hour order to tackle the problem of street drinkers in parts of the town centre. Picture: Google

Neighbourhood policing team officers issued a full Dispersal Order at the weekend for parts of the town centre covered by a Public Space Protection Zone.

Also in crime: Four arrested as man stabbed in neck after 'mass brawl' in HolbeckIt was in response to persistent reports of people drinking in the street and acting in an anti-social manner.

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The order, which was was put in place for 48 hours from 3pm on Friday, gave officers extra powers to tackle what the force described as a hard core minority of offenders.

The team issued 15 'directions to leave' during that period and arrested four people who breached it by returning to the zone.

One person has been charged so far and other offences remain under investigation.

Aside from arresting people for breaching the orders, officers also arrested two people for criminal damage offences against four commercial premises.

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Inspector Martin Moizer, of Wakefield Police, said: “We have received a number of complaints of anti-social behaviour in the town centre area over the last few weeks, and while action has been undertaken, we are aware that some problems remained.

“It is completely and utterly unacceptable that some residents have felt that parts of the town centre have at times, felt like a ‘no go zone’ due to persistent street drinking and related anti-social behaviour.

“As a result we enacted a Dispersal Order, providing officers with the power to issue directions to leave to persons offending in the Dispersal order zone and then arrest those who returned.”

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Dispersal powers give uniformed police and police community support officers (PCSOs) the power to disperse groups of two people or more, if they believe that their presence or behaviour has resulted, or is likely to result, in any member of the community being harassed, intimidated, alarmed or distressed.

Insp Moizer said: “We are very pleased with the results of the operation which I think has sent a very clear message to those behaving in a way which is just not acceptable.

“Evidence suggests the operation made a significant impact on the town centre and we will we working with partners to follow up on the operation using criminal behaviour order legislation.

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“We are continuing to monitor the situation very closely and I would urge anyone who witnesses drink-related anti-social behaviour in the town centre to contact us."

Call police via the non-emergency 101 number or make a report via the West Yorkshire Police website.

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