AN ORDER that will give police the power to confiscate booze from drunks in Bracknell town centre has been given the green light.

The Designated Public Place Order (DPPO) will make it an offence to drink alcohol in the town centre after being told by a police officer not to do so.

The order was approved at a meeting of Bracknell Forest Council's executive on Tuesday.

Cllr Iain McCracken, executive member for culture, corporate services and public protection, said anti-social behaviour had fallen by 25% in Windsor and Maidenhead after similar orders were introduced there.

He added: "This has been the subject of much consultation over a number of months.

"It has been given a good thrashing out before it came to the point when we said yes we are going to put a DPPO in place."

Bracknell Town Council backed the proposal, though some members voiced concern about where drunks will be moved to if told by police to leave the town centre.

Before the meeting, Ian Boswell, community safety manager at the council, said: "The police asked us to make the order.

"We have got low levels of recorded crime and anti-social behaviour - but there are still some pockets where we could do more. One of these is the town centre."