AN order giving powers to police to stop people drinking alcohol in public in areas of Swaffham could be brought in to combat anti-social behaviour in the town.

AN order giving powers to police to stop people drinking alcohol in public in areas of Swaffham could be brought in to combat anti-social behaviour in the town.

Breckland Council is considering making an area of the town centre a so-called designated public place, giving police the power to stop people drinking alcohol there.

If people do not obey the alcohol could then be confiscated - or if someone refuses to hand it over they could be arrested.

Breckland's general purposes committee is due to discuss the order on Wednesday.

The area effected would include from the bypass in the north as far as the development immediately south of the Hamond's and South Greenhoe Schools on the Brandon Road, with the western boundary incorporating the recreation ground and eastern boundary taking in the extent of the built-up area along Sporle Road, the old A47 and the Pickenham Road.

According to a report to the committee, most of the town's pubs and off-licences are in the Market Place and Orford Road and Merryweather Road plus other roads off the Market Place.

These areas are where most incidents of anti-social behaviour are reported, it says.

Specific roads seen as 'hot spots' in order with the worst first were include London Street, Market Place, Castle Acre Road, Carter Close and Station Road.

However, according to the report, concerns have been raised over whether the powers justify the time and money spent on them, estimated at about �4,000, and that existing powers already deal with most aspects of anti-social behaviour.

To counteract this, the Crime reduction Partnership's funding panel has offered �1,020 towards the costs of putting up signage and the town council has agreed to put up signs on specific sites.

Similar orders have already been made in the district's four other towns.