BOOZING in public is set to be banned in every street across Blackburn and Darwen to tackle alcohol-related anti-social behaviour.

The Public Places Order would make it an arrestable offence to continue to drink if the person has been asked to stop by a police officer.

If approved, Blackburn with Darwen would become one of the first areas in the country to introduce a borough-wide alcohol restriction.

Police and council chiefs believe order would help tackle the alcohol-related anti-social behaviour that blights many people's lives.

Coun Alan Cottam, chairman of the community safety partnership, said: "It is a sad sign of the times that this order is necessary because of the decline in people's behaviour.

"Seventy seven per cent of residents in Blackburn with Darwen questioned in the Citizens Survey Panel in December 2007 replied that they would support an order banning drinking in public places across the whole borough."

A strict ban on drinking in public has been imposed in Blackburn town centre since 2002.

But the new ban will allow officers to 'turn a blind eye' in certain situations, such as if a family was having a drink with a picnic in a park.

If an officer decides to take action, he would have the power to order someone to hand their alcohol over or risk being arrested or fined.

According to statistics for 2006/7, alcohol was a factor in 10 per cent of anti-social incidents in the borough, while a third of violent crime involved people under the influence of alcohol.

Police have previously used dispersal orders to ban young people from congregating in hotspot areas, such as parts of Oswaldtwistle and Mill Hill.

But critics have said these orders move the problem on elsewhere.

The area's police commander Chief Superintendent Dave Mallaby said the new legislation would give police "on-the-spot" flexibility to deal with the problems.

He said: "Most areas across the country have some areas that have designated areas. However there have only been two or three nationally that have done it across the borough and seem to have had pretty good results.

"One of the biggest problems if you have designated alcohol controlled areas you get displacement which can be easily transferred to another area. With this method you wouldn't get that problem."

The move will be subject to a public consultation with the public and relevant bodies, such as pubs, before it is imposed.

Blackburn MP Jack Straw said he "strongly supported" the move.

Mr Straw said: "I have had complaints from residents about juvenile nuisance in residential areas which is fuelled by youngsters drinking alcohol so to ban on street drinking in Blackburn is something I would strongly support.

"However I think it's sensible for their to be prior consultation with the public and those in the licensed trade."

Coun Salim Mulla, whose Queen's Park ward has been blighted by alcohol-related vandalism, said: ""We have a major problem in the area with youths drinking alcohol, especially in the park at night.

"This is a positive measure that I will be supporting all the way