A Designated Public Place Order (DPPO) was introduced in the Wheatfields area of St Ives last April.

While officers have always had the power to take booze off under-age drinkers in public, without a DPPO they have no authority to relieve adults of alcohol.

Although the order for the area from Cambridge Drive through to Wheatfields Primary School is permanent, its progress is monitored by regular reports to the district council's licensing department by the police.

The most recent report shows a marked drop in vandalism and rowdy behaviour. In the six months prior to the order there were 39 reports of anti-social behaviour, but in the first six months it was in place this was reduced to 16.

Police patrols have been carried out 85 times in the area between May and December and four alcohol seizures have been made, three of which were youth- related. Five groups have been moved on, but the police reported there have been no arrests and no major issues.

St Ives Sergeant Russell Giddings said: "I am fully supportive of the DPPO remaining in place as I believe that the period it has been in place so far is too short to consider whether it was success or failure. I suspect that the weather may have played a major part in last year's reduction of incidents.

"The incidents have remained sporadic but there was a noticeable increase in drink-related reports at half term.

"I would like to see the DPPO remain in place for at least three years so that a true assessment can be made of its effectiveness."

District and town councillor Jason Ablewhite said: "It's not totally negated all the problems in that area, but the fact is it's reduced anti-social-behaviour by 50 per cent.

"I think there's a hardcore of a small minority who are causing the disruptions and they have been reported to be out all night. So it does not matter if it's summer or winter."