Midsomer Norton Town Council is exploring the possibility of starting a new partnership to tackle the issue of problem drinking in the town.

The council has held preliminary meetings with the Community Alcohol Partnership (CAP) Regional Coordinator last month, with a view to re-establishing the CAP in the town. The meeting was prompted by a resident contacting Matt Knight, the CAP regional Coordinator, suggesting that Midsomer Norton required a CAP due to anti-social behaviour.

A Community Alcohol Partnership (CAP) is a Community Interest Company (CiC) which brings together and supports local partnerships to reduce alcohol harm among young people, improve their health and wellbeing and enhance their communities. Local CAP partners would typically include police, trading standards, relevant local authority departments such as public health, licensing, community engagement and youth services, schools, local charities, housing associations, resident associations, pub watch schemes and alcohol retailers/licensees.

The possible partnership comes as the officially recorded levels of anti social behaviour in the town have been falling.

According to the crime reporting site crime rate UK, the numbers of reported crimes of that kind in Midsomer Norton have fallen, although the Covid lockdowns played a major part and the town is third safest small towns in Somerset.

There are currently more than 200 CAPs around the country with a particular focus on alcohol education aimed at youngsters as part of a long-term, preventative approach to ensure that young people are equipped to make the right decisions about a range of issues, including drugs, anti-social and criminal behaviour.

Information published ahead of Monday's Full Town Council meeting shows that the Town Warden has reported finding empty vodka bottles at West Clewes and the Town Park. The CCTV footage identifies young teenagers who are using the parks to drink in small groups. The fear is finding an unconscious teenager or something worse.

Following the initial meeting held on Tuesday 14th June with the Deputy Town Clerk and Councillor Christian Griffiths, it has been suggested that the CAP will run along side a pub watch scheme, if approved by the Town Council. The new Street Marshal contractor, Midas, are keen for licence premises to be able to contact each other and work together with the Marshals and the police to reduce anti-social behaviour. It has been recommended that the Town Council consider setting up a CAP and arrange a meeting to ensure the backing of interested parties.