Cornwall Council and police are reviewing how town centres are managed in Newquay, Truro, Penzance and Falmouth. Police will today call for new "Community Safety Zones" as part of that review.
The council is examining what it calls the "Cumulative Impact" of having many bars and takeaways in one area. Officials want to develop more proactive ways of overseeing town centres.
A report by Alcohol Licensing Sergeant David Flynn says: "Police are happy to support the review of the policy in considering whether to move away from ‘Cumulative Impact Areas’ and consider ‘Community Safety Zones’ which is a more proactive approach that focuses on managing risks through partnership, operator responsibility and safety."
The report adds: "The Cumulative Impact Policy is an important piece of legislation which Devon and Cornwall Police regard as a necessary tool in order to support those businesses who are working hard to do a good job in promoting the licensing objectives and also to prevent those who the police regard as potentially having a negative impact on those licensing objectives and ultimately the county and its people."
The full report by police can be read here
A separate report ahead of the council meeting states: "The special policies relating to cumulative impact were originally adopted in February 2007 (Newquay), January 2008 (Truro), October 2009 (Penzance) and February 2014 (Falmouth)."
It continues: "Cumulative Impact Assessments must be reviewed at least every three years to determine whether they should be maintained, amended or removed."
The report adds: "In areas where the number, type and density of premises selling alcohol is high or exceptional, serious problems of nuisance and disorder tend to occur outside licensed premises and can also extend some distance from those premises."
"Large concentrations of people queuing, gathering or leaving licensed premises at the same time, including late night takeaways, can lead to conflict, disorder and anti-social behaviour."
"Large concentrations of people may also increase the incidence of other criminal activities. In addition, local services such as public transport, public toilets and street cleaning may not be able to meet the demand posed by concentrations of people."
Police Propose Community Safety Zones for Four Cornwall Towns