AN ATTEMPT is being made to give police the power to stop drinking in public places in parts of Tenbury Wells.

Tenbury Town Council is asking that officers be given the power to stop people drinking in public and to confiscate alcohol.

If it is agreed by Malvern Hills District Council, the restrictions will apply throughout the town centre and the park areas.

Richard Jones, Mayor of Tenbury, said the council was not being a killjoy and there was no intention to stop all public drinking. “If people are having a quiet pint or a glass of wine when they have a picnic or listen to music in the park then they have nothing to worry about,” said Mr Jones.

“The power to ask someone to stop drinking or to confiscate alcohol will be discretionary and will only be used to stop anti-social drinking.

“People assume that the police have got automatic powers to deal with anti-social drinking but this is not the case.”

But the mayor said the decision to ask for the powers did not mean that Tenbury town centre had a major drinking problem.

“It would be quite wrong to believe that there is a serious drinking problem in Tenbury.

“But, from time to time, there is anti-social drinking – especially in the parks at night and we want the police to have powers to act when this happens.”