THE public drinking ban in Trowbridge is not working, says a disgruntled resident, who thinks police should be doing more to enforce it.

On January 22 the Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) was launched in the town meaning anybody caught consuming alcohol, urinating or defecating in the area could be liable to prosecution and a fine of up to £1,000.

But according to the resident, who wanted to remain anonymous, it is the same situation in the park as it was before the order was enforced.

He said: “It’s not working; in fact it’s a complete mockery.

“Yesterday I saw a police officer walk up to three people drinking on a bench when I was playing football with my son but they just had a word with them and left them there.

“They sometimes move people on but that’s it, which isn’t stopping the problem altogether.

“I saw someone buying alcohol in Sainsbury’s recently and his friends were waiting for him outside, all clearly drunk, and I even heard a woman taking alcohol orders from her friends on the bench by the tennis courts the other day.

“A lot of these people can’t drive as they’re inebriated so they must be buying their alcohol from supermarkets in the town centre.

“Surely the obvious solution is to cut it off at the source; police should be telling staff at those supermarkets not to serve alcohol to people who are clearly drunk, or the people who regularly come in and buy alcohol.”

But police are remaining positive on the initiative.

Sergeant Louis McCoy said: "Arrest is a last resort and isn’t the main purpose of the PSPO.

"Along with our partner agencies, our plan includes enforcement but is only one aspect in how we tackle the wider issues of alcohol related dependency and anti-social behaviour in the town.

"We are committed to pro-active patrols in the area and responding to calls about these incidents and we will continue to do this.

"Often removing the alcohol from the person can be as, if not more, impactive than any arrests. There is a financial inconvenience for them having purchased the alcohol, only to lose it again very quickly.

"I want to assure people that the ban is being enforced and we will arrest where it is necessary and appropriate."