Party patrols aim to keep a lid on night-time noise (From The Oxford Times)

Party patrols aim to keep a lid on night-time noise

9:30am Tuesday 29th May 2012 in Oxford

PARTY patrols are out and about in Oxford to try to put an end to noisy neighbours and antisocial behaviour.

Environmental health officers, supported by the police, have started patrolling Oxford at night to track down noisy parties.

Since starting on May 16, they have already attended a house party in East Oxford and stopped students using a shopping trolley “inappropriately”. The council confirmed the patrols were tried out in March. They are focusing on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights.

Spokesman Annette Cunningham said: “The party patrol is made up of enforcement officers. They are a mixture of existing out-of-hours officers and others in the department.

“There are currently seven out-of-hours officers, plus six other volunteers.

“On Wednesday the officers encountered students in high spirits using a shopping trolley inappropriately and were asked to return it to the shop.

“A student was also reprimanded by the officer for urinating in a public place.”

The night-time patrols are costing the council £14,000 a year.

The team has the power to measure noise levels, confiscate music equipment and hand out on-the-spot fines.

Ch Insp Cecilia Agger, of Thames Valley Police, said: “This initiative is not about trying to stop people from having fun, it is more about educating and informing people about the impact their actions can have on the communities they live in.”