Police handed new powers to tackle excessive drinking in riverside meadow

The introduction of a public space protection order (PSPO) covering a popular riverside meadow in Eton will help stop a minority ‘spoiling the area for everybody else’, according to the town’s mayor.

Police officers will now be able to tell people to stop drinking on The Brocas, owned by Eton College, after they were granted new powers by the Royal Borough.

If drinkers refuse to comply, they could also face a fine under the new laws.

The Mayor of Eton, Derek Bishop, said: “Quite simply we’ve got a problem on The Brocas with vagrants.

“This isn’t about stopping families having a picnic on The Brocas but it’s about empowering the police so they can confiscate alcohol from people drinking excessively and stop people from spoiling the area for everybody else.”

PSPOs are used by councils to tackle anti-social behaviour.

They allow councils to criminalise behaviour which would not normally be deemed as criminal in a predefined geographical area.

The Royal Borough has already imposed PSPOs across Windsor and Eton town centres.

Peter Eaton, who lives in Brocas Terrace, said: “The problem has evolved over the years and we get people hanging around at night.

“Most of Windsor is covered by PSPOs but we were sort of left behind.”

Roz Rivaz, chairman of the Eton Community Association, thanked everyone who helped make the new PSPO a reality.

She added: “Everyone wants to be able to come and have picnics with maybe a glass of wine at a really fantastic area.

“What is unfortunate is a small number of people abuse the area by drinking too much and taking drugs.

“If you’re a vagrant and that’s the life you lead then OK but that it’s not nice for people walking around the Brocas.”

The PSPO, which will also cover footpaths 51, 30 and Eton and Meadow Lane Car Park, officially came into place on Friday, July 22 and those opposing it have until September, 2 to appeal to the High Court.