COPS have used new Home Office legislation to ban a persistently drunk woman from a churchyard in Hackney. The Violent Crime Reduction Act was brought in for the first time by neighbourhood police to tackle anti-social activity around St John’s Church

POLICE have used new Home Office legislation to ban a persistently drunk woman from a churchyard in East London.

The Violent Crime Reduction Act was brought in for the first time by the Hackney Central neighbourhood police team to tackle anti-social activity around St John's Church.

Officers arrested 40-year-old Susan Grant when she was spotted in the churchyard in breach of a 48-hour order banning her under the new Act from the area.

They used CCTV evidence from Hackney Council showing Grant breached the order twice in two days.

ARRESTED

Grant was arrested and appeared at Thames Magistrates' court on Friday (April 24), where she got a three-month conditional discharge.

Ins Andy Walker said after the hearing: "This new power is not a solution on its own to prevent alcohol misuse.

"But the Act helps us in working with Hackney Council and drug outreach workers to make the area safer. It reduces the likelihood of disorder in a particular locality."

It is believed this is the first time the legislation has been used in Hackney.

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