DISTRICT officials are set to consider revoking an order implemented eight years ago that gave police greater powers to tackle street drinking in Swanage.

Purbeck District Council (PDC) will discuss the removal of the Designated Public Places Order (DPPO), which records show has only been used by Dorset Police once since 2012.

At the time the DPPO was implemented, residents had complained of alcohol-related antisocial behaviour in the town centre.

A DPPO gave police discretionary powers to confiscate alcohol being consumed in public places.

Now, a report to councillors from PDC officers, confirms use of the DPPO has 'dramatically dropped' due to new powers that became available under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.

The report also recommends councillors do not opt to replace the DPPO with a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO), which came into existence in 2014.

Liberty campaigners have criticised PSPO's as being used to 'criminalise' acts which would otherwise not be criminal offences.

The report to PDC states: "A range of stakeholders have been consulted as part of the comprehensive review.

"Evidence from Dorset Police shows the DPPO has only been used once since 2012 and they report they no longer need the powers made available to them under the DPPO due to other powers being made available under newer legislation.

"Each premises license holder, club premises certificate holder or other premises users within the designated area were written to individually and given the opportunity to discuss the proposal at the May meeting of Swanage Pub Watch. No responses were received."

Swanage Town Council has been consulted on the DPPO, and resolved unanimously to support its removal.

There has also been a 12-week online consultation which prompted just three responses - two of these requesting the existing order to be replaced with a PSPO.

The report recommends "the existing DPPO is withdrawn and a PSPO is not implemented in its place."

District councillors are set to rule on the issue at Westport House, Worgret Road, Wareham, on August 8.