PLANS to turn the whole borough into an alcohol control zone to tackle anti social behaviour are to go before the council s Assembly in March. The Designated Public Place Orders will give police special powers to deal with rowdy drunks in public by conf

PLANS to turn the whole borough into an 'alcohol control zone' to tackle anti social behaviour are to go before the council's Assembly in March.

The Designated Public Place Orders will give police special powers to deal with rowdy drunks in public by confiscating their drink, but it is not designed to stop the general public from enjoying an open air drink.

Barking and Dagenham is the third worst London borough for alcohol-related antisocial behaviour, so council bosses agreed to proposals that cover the entire borough as a 'zone' at the Executive meeting on Tuesday (December 22).

There are already three control zones in areas around Barking Town Centre, Rainham Road South, Dagenham, and at Martins Corner, Becontree. but requests for five additional control areas, which would have cost �3,000 to set up each.

It would be cheaper to turn the whole borough into a control zone and would cost only around �5,000 in total for consultation letters and signage.

The final decision will be taken by the Assembly on March 24 next year, before a consultation with licensees and residents is due to be held.

According to a 2009 place survey for the borough, 45.5 per cent of residents felt that drunk and rowdy behaviour in public was a problem.

People who refuse to comply can be arrested and fined up to �500.

Borough commander Matt Bell said: "So many of the problems we experience in Barking and Dagenham, be it crime, disorder or anti-social behaviour are intrinsically linked with the abuse of alcohol.

"When I first became the borough commander in July of this year I was asked what I felt were the top three causes of crime and disorder in the borough, my thinking hasn't changed since then.

'Alcohol, alcohol and alcohol.'

"I welcome anything that enables me and my staff to better tackle these problems and I fully support the Councils stance to obtain a borough-wide alcohol control zone.