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Drinkers forced to clean own mess | Drinkers forced to clean own mess |
(about 4 hours later) | |
By Alex Bushill BBC News, Torquay, Devon | |
Advertisement | |
Revellers in Torquay on the new measures | |
With politicians calling for a crackdown on alcohol-fuelled disorder, police in Torquay have come up with a solution to one of the more anti-social aspects of drinking far too much. | With politicians calling for a crackdown on alcohol-fuelled disorder, police in Torquay have come up with a solution to one of the more anti-social aspects of drinking far too much. |
You would expect a police van to be well equipped - handcuffs, truncheons, helmets and armour. | You would expect a police van to be well equipped - handcuffs, truncheons, helmets and armour. |
But what about a mop and bucket? | But what about a mop and bucket? |
I found myself hurtling down Torquay's palmed-fringed seafront with a local patrol - who can only really be described as the "mop cops". | I found myself hurtling down Torquay's palmed-fringed seafront with a local patrol - who can only really be described as the "mop cops". |
Police in the Devon resort have decided to clean up their town, quite literally. | Police in the Devon resort have decided to clean up their town, quite literally. |
For the last few months anyone caught peeing in the streets after one too many drinks on the town will be given a choice: either face arrest for being drunk and disorderly, or take a mop and bucket and clean up your own mess. | For the last few months anyone caught peeing in the streets after one too many drinks on the town will be given a choice: either face arrest for being drunk and disorderly, or take a mop and bucket and clean up your own mess. |
But as the finer details of this unusual campaign were being explained to me in the back of the police van, we pulled up abruptly. | But as the finer details of this unusual campaign were being explained to me in the back of the police van, we pulled up abruptly. |
Punishment | Punishment |
We had been on patrol for all of two minutes and they had already caught their first piddler, red-handed. | We had been on patrol for all of two minutes and they had already caught their first piddler, red-handed. |
He was just a teenager, clearly under the influence and shocked at all the unwanted attention. | He was just a teenager, clearly under the influence and shocked at all the unwanted attention. |
Presented with his choice, he did not take long to decide. | Presented with his choice, he did not take long to decide. |
Moments later, his head bowed, his face hidden by his hooded top, he was hunched over his own trail of wee, mopping away. | Moments later, his head bowed, his face hidden by his hooded top, he was hunched over his own trail of wee, mopping away. |
I asked him if he accepted the punishment - and he gruffly replied "yeah". | I asked him if he accepted the punishment - and he gruffly replied "yeah". |
He was clearly not enjoying this, as his friends watched and laughed. But he was soon on his way after a ticking-off from Sgt Nick Healy. The boy assured him he wouldn't do it again. | He was clearly not enjoying this, as his friends watched and laughed. But he was soon on his way after a ticking-off from Sgt Nick Healy. The boy assured him he wouldn't do it again. |
The idea was the brainchild of Supt Chris Singer, who calls this approach to policing "restorative justice". | The idea was the brainchild of Supt Chris Singer, who calls this approach to policing "restorative justice". |
"People need to take responsibility for their actions", he said. People need to take responsibility for their actions Supt Chris Singer | "People need to take responsibility for their actions", he said. People need to take responsibility for their actions Supt Chris Singer |
I asked him if this wasn't just primitive policing, akin to wiping a puppy's nose in its own mess? | I asked him if this wasn't just primitive policing, akin to wiping a puppy's nose in its own mess? |
It's not a comparison he shared. | It's not a comparison he shared. |
"No, it isn't at all. It is a simple and straightforward approach. | "No, it isn't at all. It is a simple and straightforward approach. |
"There is a hygiene element to all of this. Urine is left in a doorway for somebody else to clear up - why should somebody else clear it up? | "There is a hygiene element to all of this. Urine is left in a doorway for somebody else to clear up - why should somebody else clear it up? |
"We're saying, you've committed an offence, now please clear it up." | "We're saying, you've committed an offence, now please clear it up." |
While we were filming, someone else relieved themselves down a hidden alleyway. | While we were filming, someone else relieved themselves down a hidden alleyway. |
This time it is just a ticking off; the mop and bucket are left in the van. | This time it is just a ticking off; the mop and bucket are left in the van. |
But his excuse? | But his excuse? |
"Well, if there wasn't such a long queue in the club, I wouldn't have done it." | "Well, if there wasn't such a long queue in the club, I wouldn't have done it." |
'Lucky' | 'Lucky' |
Others differ. Speak to anyone on the street on a busy Friday night and the vast majority will tell you urinating in public is unacceptable. | Others differ. Speak to anyone on the street on a busy Friday night and the vast majority will tell you urinating in public is unacceptable. |
It's a view echoed by local businessmen who, the morning after the night before, have to clear up after a heavy night. | It's a view echoed by local businessmen who, the morning after the night before, have to clear up after a heavy night. |
One restaurateur complained of how a reveller urinated against his restaurant window, while diners would be eating. | One restaurateur complained of how a reveller urinated against his restaurant window, while diners would be eating. |
But back on the busy streets of Torquay, the night was winding down. The police packed up their kit and the mop was put away for now. | But back on the busy streets of Torquay, the night was winding down. The police packed up their kit and the mop was put away for now. |
And as we made our way back home, one officer confided in me. | And as we made our way back home, one officer confided in me. |
Perhaps those made to use the mop should count themselves lucky - he told me that there was a time when anyone caught peeing in the streets would have been made to clear it up with their own shirts. | Perhaps those made to use the mop should count themselves lucky - he told me that there was a time when anyone caught peeing in the streets would have been made to clear it up with their own shirts. |
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