The special month long operation was launched last month to tackle street drinkers' anti social behaviour and reduce alcohol related crimes such as shop lifting. Dover is covered by a 'consumption of alcohol in a designated place order' which gives police the power to seize and destroy alcohol. Anyone who fails to surrender their alcohol, or consumes it after being warned, faces prosecution.
Community Policing Team Sergeant, Carl Lidgley, said: "Street drinkers make life miserable for people who just want to go about their business without being hassled and abused.
"During the summer, Dover experiences a significant increase in drink related anti-social behaviour and crime in the city centre. We've also seen a rise in the number of calls from the public reporting drunks making a nuisance of themselves. This operation helps to combat these issues by deploying officers and PCSOs dedicated to reducing the problem.
"We disrupt those who affect the quality of life of others through their street drinking, criminality, disorderly conduct, negative and obstructive attitude towards police by moving them on, seizing their alcohol and with our high visibility presence. The tactic also provides public reassurance."
The Dover Partnership Against Crime (DPAC) has provided alcohol testing kits for officers to use during the operation. The regular town drinkers have become wise to officers seizing alcohol and taken to decanting their drinks into paper coffee cups to disguise they are drinking alcohol. They also ask people to buy alcohol on their behalf as some licenced premises will not serve them.
The operation complements the Reduce The Strength scheme whereby off licences are asked not to sell alcohol above 6.5% abv (alcohol by volume) to known street drinkers.
