A Leeds grandad who likes to drink in public and has been "stabbed twice" in Harehills says it's unfair that street-drinkers are being treated like criminals.
Grandfather-of-two Mark, 53, who didn’t want his last name published, has dubbed the area 'Scarehills Lane' due to crime and anti-social behaviour which led to the restrictions.
Street drinkers in the area can now be handed six months jail time if they're found breaching the order and a hefty fine.
For the latest Harehills coverage, head over to our dedicated page here
Leeds City Council extended the strengthened ban this month by a further three months. It's been in affect since December.
Mark has lived in Harehills for over 20 years. He’s no longer working due to “mental health issues” and used to be a painter and decorator.
He said: “It’s Scarehills Lane. That’s what it is. I’ve been stabbed in the neck and in the a***.”
The 53-year-old can be seen zipping up and down the area on his bicycle, wearing a parka jacket and tracksuit bottoms. He has one son, aged 33, and two grandchildren, 10 and 2.
Mark says he has a good relationship with his family and his girlfriend, who he’s been with for eight years, but they “don’t like” him socialising on Harehills Lane.
He said: “They don’t like me being down here but this is where my friends are.”
'We’re not idiots'
Mark likes to drink beer with his gang of friends, men of a similar age who also ride bicycles and wear similar attire. He does not like that the drinking ban has been strengthened.
“We’re not idiots,” defended Mark, sick of public drinkers being demonised due to a shameful minority of troublemakers.
He continued: “We don’t do owt wrong but you get the rest of the idiots who cause some trouble, fight and this and that. That’s how it is really, you just get tarred with a certain name and that’s not us.
“I haven’t always drunk on the street but it’s just the times with Covid and all that. I’m not saying I’m a bad drinker, I don’t get blind drunk every day.”
The grandad says he’s built up a great wealth of friends whilst drinking with others in the street, who act as a support network – almost like a second family.
He said: “If something happens, they’re there for you.”
The 53-year-old does relent that there are benefits which come with the drinking ban, saying that pensioners like his mum stopped socialising on the street due to people misbehaving.
Mark says he was stabbed twice in Harehills. He’s recounted these harrowing incidents which put his life in jeopardy.
The grandfather-of-two said he was stabbed in the neck a couple of years ago.
Mark said: “We were fighting after having a smoke. He asked me for something and I wasn’t giving him it, so he ended up pulling me to the ground, kicking me and I was spinning. On the ground there was a brick, so I picked up on the fly and I hit him in the mouth.
“I didn’t even know that he’d stabbed me.”
He adds that he attended hospital hours later, after patching himself up at the chemists – who insisted that they call an ambulance for him as he’d lost a lot of blood.
Mark said he got stabbed just below his buttocks at the top of his leg by a man as he was walking down the street, unprovoked.
He said: “They were just being d***h****. They do it for nowt around here.”
Mark also claims to have had three phones stolen from him in Harehills Lane, the most recent incident being a couple weeks ago whilst speaking to his girlfriend on the phone. He said it was yanked out of his hand by someone zipping by on a bicycle.
MP for Leeds East Richard Burgon was asked for a comment, as were Harehills and Gipton ward councillors Salma Arif, Arif Hussain and Camilla Maqsood.
The stricter drinking ban has been enforced since mid-December 2021. It’s termed as a Partial Premises Closure Order under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014. It covers Harehills Lane and the immediate surrounding area.
The ban prohibits anyone carrying an open container of alcohol, unless it’s in a licensed or residential premises.
This order is stronger than the Public Spaces Protection Order, already enforced, which merely fines those for anti-social drinking.
First time offenders are given a warning but repeat offenders could be arrested and prosecuted, resulting in a fine and/or given a six-month prison sentence.
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West Yorkshire Police Inspector Chantel Patrick, who heads the Leeds East Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “Street drinking and the crime and anti-social behaviour it fuels are completely unacceptable and have a really negative impact on the lives of residents and on businesses in the area.
“We have been working alongside our partner agencies to address the issues around street drinking in the Harehills Lane area for some time now and this order will really strengthen those efforts.
“This latest move supports our ongoing partnership strategy aimed at bringing long-term improvements to the area, and we hope people will start to see positive results soon.
“We will be targeting the area with increased patrols and enforcement operations and will take firm action against those who repeatedly breach the order.”
Councillor Debra Coupar, Leeds City Council’s deputy leader and executive member for resources said: “Anti-social behaviour of any kind will not be tolerated in our communities and I very much welcome these orders which will give police the powers to tackle on-street drinking on Harehills Lane and in the surrounding areas.
“Similar orders have recently successfully been introduced in Armley and residents can rest assured knowing that we will continue to work alongside West Yorkshire Police to use every tool at our disposal to put a stop to it in Harehills.
“Through these orders, we will be able to take tougher action against repeat offenders, creating a more positive environment in the community.”
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