Operation Bottle Top aims to stop anti-social behaviour

Police in Ealing have stopped 83 street drinkers and seized 14 bottles and cans of alcohol.

"Operation Bottle Top"  has been launched in the Greenford area to try and tackle problems caused by drinking.

Police say it follows complaints from residents about large groups congregating, and making them feel intimidated by street drinkers using bad language and urinating in the street.

Greenford Safer Neighbourhoods Teams pooled resources to conduct patrols every day across all the Greenford wards at the times when most complaints are made.

Inspector Dominic Lemonde in charge of Greenford cluster said:

"Several of the wards across Greenford have set up twitter accounts and post details of where they are patrolling and what alcohol has been seized. This has provided another avenue for the public to engage with us and tell us where this behaviour is taking place.

"Since starting the operation only a week ago officers have stopped 83 street drinkers across Greenford, seizing over 140 cans and bottles of alcohol including spirits. In most cases offenders hand over their alcohol upon request but in two cases individuals refused and so where issued with a £60 fixed penalty notice for failing to surrender their alcohol in a controlled drinking zone. Additionally there have been three arrests as a result of these patrols."

The police are also working in partnership with other agencies to maximise the impact of the operation. All of the stops conducted as part of Operation Bottle Top are sent to Paul Murphy of the Community Safety Team at Ealing Council. Using a matrix that his team has developed they will monitor reoffending and where appropriate, will take additional action such as forcing the offender to attend alcohol support services.

Officers are also working closely with Amey; the council-contracted street cleaners to focus on the litter left by outdoor drinkers. In addition officers are working with drug and alcohol support service RISE (Recovery Intervention Service Ealing) who will be coming out on patrol to engage with street drinkers to offer access to drug and alcohol recovery services.

Operation Bottle Top will continue until Saturday, 22 August and Greenford residents are encouraged to contact the police if they are suffering from the adverse affects of street drinkers.

Residents can also follow on twitter @MPSGreenfordSNT, @MPSNGreenford, @MPSNortholtWest to keep up to date with the operation and its progress along with other local policing news and information.

Operation Bottle Top has a dedicated telephone number on which residents can contact officers directly: 07824 894 395.

RISE can be contacted on 0800 195 8100

3rd August 2015