Misbehaving revellers face 'booze Asbos'

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Hundreds more people responsible for alcohol-fuelled crime and anti-social behaviour face being given "booze Asbos" from today.

Drinking banning orders (DBOs) will be available to police and local authorities in a further 25 areas to protect the public from drink-related offences.

The orders enable magistrates to impose conditions on individuals such as banning them from drinking in, or visiting, certain places.

Breaches are punishable with fines of up to £2,500.

The orders can last for up to two years, although offenders can have them shortened by the successful completion of a "positive behaviour intervention course".

Crime Prevention Minister James Brokenshire said: "We remain concerned about the number of alcohol related incidents and the drink-fuelled violence and disorder that blight many of our towns and cities."

The extension "will help local communities manage problem individuals and will also help those individuals to address the reasons for their behaviour".

The powers could be rolled out nationwide if a success, he added.

The so-called booze Asbos could be applied for across England and Wales from September and have been available upon conviction in 25 areas from April.

From today, they are being extended to local justice areas including: Birmingham; Bristol; Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale; City of Westminster; Denbighshire; East Berkshire; Fenland; Grimsby and Cleethorpes; Gwent; and Hammersmith and Fulham and Kensington and Chelsea.

They will also be available in: Hartlepool; Lambeth and Southwark; Manchester City; Mansfield; Merthyr Tydfil; Newcastle-upon-Tyne District; North East Derbyshire and Dales; North East Suffolk; North Kent; North Tyneside District; Northampton; Plymouth District; Sedgemoor; West Cornwall; and West Hertfordshire.