POLICE Superintendent John Donlon was slammed by a district councillor this week for refusing to back an open-air drinking clampdown in Princes Risborough and Marlow.

The only area where he would back the ban was in the centre of High Wycombe.

The proposal, which will not make it an offence to drink in public but give the police greater powers of arrest and allow them to seize bottles as dangerous weapons, was agreed by district councillors on Monday.

A bylaw banning urinating in public in the same area is also likely.

But limiting the ban to High Wycombe infuriated Princes Risborough councillor Dennis Green who said people in his patch also wanted it.

He said: "Risborough and Marlow have the same problems about anti-social behaviour. Superintendent Donlon should come down out of his ivory tower in High Wycombe and visit Princes Risborough one night."

Cllr Green said that since the county council introduced proof of age cards for drinking, youngsters got older children to go and buy drink.

"There are only four police officers in Princes Risborough, compared with 12 two years ago, and that is why they can't get the evidence. But the town council sees it and I see it. He should come and walk round the town with me at night time."

Supt Donlon said: "I have yet to be convinced of the effectiveness of such orders in terms of the impact on community safety but I am more than willing to try out such a scheme in order to test its effectiveness and the impact on the community.

"If it does prove to be effective then consideration will be given to extending the scheme to other areas."

Labour group leader Ted Collins said he had been out on a night patrol with the police into the centre of High Wycombe.

He said: "There are problems in Marlow and Risborough, but they are not nearly as bad as in High Wycombe."

Members agreed to ask the police for statistics and to continue to push for other areas to be designated.

February 14, 2002 13:38