Restrictions on where alcohol can be sold in a crime hotspot could remain in place for another three years.
Wirral Council’s Cumulative Impact Policy for central Birkenhead was brought in in 2017 after a plea was made by ward councillors at the time to tackle anti-social behaviour in the area.
The policy means that anyone applying for a licence in the area will be subject to extra scrutiny to make sure alcohol-related issues are tackled.
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It is required to be reviewed by councillors every three years whether to keep the policy or get rid of it.
It had been accused of being “a blanket ban” on alcohol licences and preserving a “low status quo” but this was not true according to council officers, who said “each application for a premises license has to be judged on its own merits and judged on evidence.”
Councillors voted unanimously to recommend the policy remain in place for another three years but this will need to be voted on by all councillors at the next full council meeting.
Representatives from Merseyside Police spoke in favour of the policy. Sgt James Watson said the policy was “the most effective and targeted approach” to tackling alcohol-related anti-social behaviour.
Cllr Mike Collins asked the police about a survey that showed 76% in the local community said they suffered from alcohol-related anti-social behaviour and whether crime “would go through the roof” if the policy was removed.
Sgt Watson agreed, and said: “Given the current ongoing issues around street drinkers in the area, I think that to back pedal away from measures that we already have in place will lead to an increase in issues.”
A report on drunk behaviour by Merseyside Police detailed harassment of staff at the McDonald's on Grange Road, a couple threatened with being glassed, and bakery staff threatened with being stabbed.
People in the community said they had seen drinkers often “urinating against walls or in bushes” as well as large groups of “youths with balaclavas.”
In one incident before being arrested, one woman was said to call a police officer a series of slurs, while two other officers were verbally abused.
Figures showed that from February to August 2022, there were 323 reports of alcohol related crime with 181 reports of violent crime.
It was argued that while still an issue, the police had made progress with reducing crime in the area.
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