More than 50 people in Thetford have had alcohol seized by police responding to community concerns about drink-related disorder.

In the past three months, drink has been confiscated from 57 people, two people have been arrested for drunken behaviour and two on-the-spot fines have been issued for urinating in public.

The results come after the issue of anti-social behaviour linked to alcohol in the Painter Street/Old Croxton Road and Butten Island/Spring Walk areas of the town was raised by residents at the last Safer Neighbourhood Action Panel meeting.

The update was given by Thetford Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT) member, Sgt Steve Burke, at the most recent community meeting in the town.

He said: “Street drinking has been dealt with by police as a priority issue in the town after concerns were raised.

“Alcohol was seized by officers and PCSOs under the Designated Public Place Order which exists in the town to help prevent alcohol-related anti-social behaviour and violence.

“The recent results have been welcomed and, by agreement with local residents, we will continue to focus on this issue and deal with the displacement of street drinking to other parts of the town.”

At the SNAP meeting held at Thetford Town Council Chambers last week, the panel also received updates on police action taken against two other priority issues.

To address issues around cycle safety in the town, a number of fines were given for cycling without lights or inconsiderate cycling in pedestrian areas. Warnings were issued to nine youths under 16, who were too young to be fined.

Police also security marked 91 cycles at a number of events to deter thieves and enable any bikes recovered to be quickly identified by police. This priority will continue for a further three months.

Police also launched a crackdown on speeding motorists in the town around Bury Road, Croxton Road and Station Road resulting in 44 motorists being stopped and spoken to, with one fined.

Police from the Safer Schools Partnership toured local schools to given road safety advice to pupils.

The SNT agreed to adopt a new priority, raised by Thetford Youth Council, of dealing with moped safety in the town centre, especially among young people.