Nuisance tramps and drunks have been banned from Preston city centre.
Business people and residents around Winckley Square and Fishergate in Preston complained to police about vagrants and alcoholics.
Now police, who today urged off-licences not to serve cheap booze to the city's tramps, have hit 40 people with temporary banning orders in the last month to keep them away from the city centre.
If they ignore the warning they can be arrested under the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006 that prohibits drunks from entering the city for a specified period if officers believe they will be involved in anti social behaviour.
But police say Preston's off-licences play a big part.
Sgt Helen Nellany, of Preston police, said: "We are encouraging city centre off-licences not to serve to drunken people and we have also conducted test purchase operations. As of yet no-one given a warning has been arrested for breaching it.
"If not witnessed begging by police – which is a requirement if a member of the public will not give a statement – most of them are moved on and warned not to return, or taken to Fox Street.
"One individual has been arrested for begging We try to encourage people where possible not to give them money but to donate to the organisations which help them.
"We are working with the homeless forum and other agencies in finding them suitable accommodation."
Sarda Patel, of Ganesh News on Fishergate Hill, said: "I think it's good the police are trying to help businesses who have had problems with drunks but the crackdown could cause problems for off licences in that people can get aggressive if you refuse to serve them.
"We are fortunate as we don't get a lot of drunken people in."
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