DRINKERS are fighting in the streets, urinating, defecating and even “engaging in sexual activity in full view of the CCTV cameras” in Birkenhead.

Reports from Merseyside Police state how businesses and shoppers in Birkenhead are being disturbed by those drinking in the street.

Police officers are asking Wirral Council to keep in place a cumulative impact assessment policy which looks to control the number of licensed premises within Birkenhead town centre. This is because the number of places allowed to sell alcohol is believed to be contributing to a rise in antisocial behaviour and crime.

The local authority’s licensing committee on November 14 agreed to recommend a full council meeting of all councillors approve keeping the policy at a later date. Committee chair Cllr Andrew Hodson said the policy was controlling the situation slightly, adding: “If we didn’t have it, it would be even worse.”

During the meeting, Constable Chris Clinch made a representation on behalf of Merseyside Police asking councillors to keep the policy which has been in place in Birkenhead since 2017.  He said alcohol related crime was rising and issues with street drinking were commonplace.

A council report published before the meeting said there were 371 incidents of alcohol related domestic violence in Birkenhead and Tranmere in 12 months and 132 incidents of non-domestic alcohol related violence in six months.

Constable Clinch said the crimes often went unreported despite it happening on a daily basis. He said people street drinking often hung around licensed premises and if they were refused at one, they would visit another nearby.

He told councillors access to alcohol was far too high and was leading to violent crimes, street fights, abuse, and theft with police witnessing people “already clearly drunk” being able to buy more alcohol. He pointed to one incident of a 21 year old man who had to be restrained as he tried to assault members of the public.

He also pointed to testimony from Birkenhead police officer Constable Diane Park that said street drinkers were becoming targets as “groups of youths are tormenting them” and stolen alcohol was either being drunk immediately or sold on. Action taken by the police found some licensed premises were selling fake cigarettes and vapes but the force said no evidence was found that would lead to a licence review.

The police said the ASDA in the town centre was targeted on a daily basis for alcohol theft though most of these went unreported as it is considered a low level and low cost crime. As a result, he said this meant the police “don’t bother obtaining the crime number.”

Constable Clinch said people were urinating in street corners and human faeces was found in shop doorways and loading bays while litter was also a problem. He said the police received regular reports from ASDA and Grange Road of street drinkers and drug users using the stairwell, lift area, and car park “in order to consume alcohol, take drugs, urinate, defecate, and also engage in sexual activity in full view of the CCTV cameras.”

He said people were “undeterred by the presence of shoppers exiting or returning to their vehicles and staff are afraid to approach. They are highly likely to be abused or even worse be assaulted.”

Merseyside Police said shops had complained street drinkers were putting off shoppers returning to Birkenhead town centre with more than three quarters saying alcohol related antisocial behaviour was a problem.

Oxton councillor Allan Brame said the situation was distressing “particularly in light of the amount of money that is being invested into the town centre trying to bring it up, to make it an attractive place for people to come,” adding: “It’s going to be very difficult to turn the place around while we have this street drinking problem.”

He questioned whether the policy was working given the number of places that already have alcohol licences. However council officers said there was no legal way for the council to reduce the number of licenced premises in an area and could only review licences based on evidence.

On November 20, councillors will consider whether to approve a new licence for a Premier on Grange Road West which is in the area covered by the police. Concerns have been raised by Merseyside Police, local councillors, and members of the public about the application.

The Premier shop wants to sell alcohol from 9am to 11pm at night every day of the week. It has proposed opening hours of 7am to 11pm.