Street drinking in Hounslow [PDF]

IntroductionIntroductionThis report looks at the nature and prevalence of street drinking across the Borough ofHounslow using data and information collated during the period July, August & September of2005.In November 2004, during the consultation process on designating Hounslow Central Ward aControlled Drinking Zone (CDZ), problems relating to street drinking groups in both InwoodPark and Hounslow Bus Station became apparent.In order to understand the implications of the CDZ on the more vulnerable street drinkers it isimportant to ensure that solutions balance the community safety, health and social exclusionagendas.For the purpose of this report a street drinker is defined as a person who drinks heavily inpublic places and appears in the short term, unable or unwilling to stop or control theirdrinking. Research tells us street drinkers have a long history of alcohol misuse. And oftendrink in groups for companionship.Research by the Mental Health Foundation tells us that the average street drinker is likely tobe a white unemployed man aged 35 or older in insecure housing, alcohol dependant, oftendrunk, and who may also be using drugs and suffering from psychiatric disorders of varyingdegrees of severity; often in a poor state of physical health; at risk of arrest for publicdrunkenness offences, shoplifting, begging and other minor public order offences, and at riskof being the victim of assault.Despite their obvious vulnerabilities, their activities and even just their presence can causereal fear among the population, and can adversely affect the quality of life for other residentsand users of the streets and parks, causing noise litter and general nuisance. This can be anobstacle to economic regeneration in Town Centres.Many London boroughs are controlling, or trying to control street drinking over quite largeareas of their town centres. This report outlines lessons that may be learned from other areastackling street drinking, particularly on how to avoid unmanaged displacement intosurrounding residential areas and further excluding street drinkers from services.Page 2