TOWN centre police have said an ASBO crackdown has significantly curbed issues with street drinkers in the area.

Reports of anti-social behaviour in the bus station and Queens Park areas have dropped to just nine last month from 74 at its peak in May.

But officers from the town centre neighbourhood policing team have said they are keen to maintain dispersal orders put in place earlier this year to prevent the nuisance group getting a foothold again.

Police sought court action to obtain interim anti-social behaviour orders against four men said to be at the core of the group, while several others have been dealt with by way of a neighbourhood justice panel – a pilot scheme set up by the Ministry of Justice.

Sector Sergeant Barry Reed said: “The fact the number of reports has come right down shows the action we've taken is having an impact.”

Last month, Martin Morgan, 27, Kevin Wolton, 30, Andrew Dunn, 45, and David Coutts, 40, had their temporary orders, which ban them from congregating in groups of more than three and being in possession of an open can or bottle of alcohol anywhere in public, extended until January next year.

The four were alleged to have been drunk in public and acted anti-socially over a prolonged period, mainly in the area of the bus station, upsetting passers-by and traders – something they all deny. It comes after police in April launched Operation Arcadia, a multi-agency crackdown on drinkers in the town centre, which the police say are responsible for more than a quarter of a 44 per cent rise in anti-social behaviour in the area over the past 18 months.

But despite a drop off in complaints Sgt Reed said officers would still maintain a pro-active approach to prevent the problems resurfacing.

He said: “We will be doing patrols as usual and will be looking at outreach work. It’s now about giving them the support that is available to them.

“We are looking into maintaining the dispersal order as we want to deny a chance of the issues rearing up again. We won’t be complacent.”

Anyone with complaints can contact 101, or email swindontowncentrenpt@wiltshire.pnn.police.uk citing Operation Arcadia.