A dispersal notice has been put in place to prevent anti-social behaviour and street drinking in a "peaceful community" in Cardiff. Cowbridge Road East in Canton has seen an increase in this behaviour in recent years and police are now clamping down on it, including by making arrests.
Passers-by had reported that drinkers on the street outside Tesco Express had been causing distress, including to parents walking their kids home from nearby schools. After local MP Kevin Brennan raised the issue with police, a section 35 dispersal notice has been issued from Thursday, August 25 until the end of the weekend.
Canton Neighbourhood Policing Inspector Ben Davies said: "We have a clear understanding of the effect that anti-social behaviour has on the local community, residents and businesses where the current street drinking problem is now directly affecting the way of life in the area.
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"My team are committed to tackling this problem and we have a specific operation now in place where a continued and dedicated focus is being made in the area; we will ensure that people are identified and that we offer them all of the support we can to ensure they no longer have the need to continue with their current way of life.
"I would like to make the local residents of Canton aware that we will tackle this issue which has arisen and return the area to the peaceful community that it was with an effective multi-agency approach while also ensuring that we are robust with persons who continue to cause issues in the area."
Riverside councillor Leonora Thomson said: "The behaviour is small scale in terms of the number of perpetrators involved but it's very unpleasant for those who are affected by it, including all passers-by going about their shopping or mums and young kids.
"It's just about every day at the moment. It tends to be people who are very drunk by early to mid-afternoon, drinking outside, and it often ends in hurling abuse at passers-by; not always targeted abuse but it often ends in an unpleasant situation and it's at a very key junction."
There has already been an "increased uniformed presence" in the area in the past 18 months to help identify offenders and direct them towards agencies dealing with housing, outreach, and mental and alcohol support.
People who have continued offending despite this have been "introduced to the anti-social behaviour process" and formally warned. There are some offenders who are "now escalating through the process."
Police confirmed that "several" arrests have been made for public order and criminal offences. Licensed premises that have contributed to the anti-social behaviour have been given resources for preventing street drinking.
Canton neighbourhood police sergeant Becky Clarke said: "Efforts to remove some of the seating will also be made and we are able to evidence the positive impact this would have on this issue because during the COVID Pandemic the seating was fenced off and unavailable which led to a marked decrease in the gathering of those committing ASB in the period. The prevention and ability to make the area hostile to ASB requires the diligent focus of officers in policing the current set stages of those involved.
"[Police will be] escalating them where relevant, removing them from the area where those conditions exist, and enforcing the legislation to court where it dictates. This operates alongside the strong support of housing and the mental health and alcohol support mechanisms that exist."
If you witness anti-social behaviour please report it to South Wales Police via the online reporting process on the force website or call 101. In an emergency please dial 999.
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