Oxford's police chief believes it is only a matter of time before there is a citywide ban on street drinking.

Superintendent Jim Trotman, the city's area commander, said the current patchwork of alcohol-free zones needed a radical rethink.

He told the Oxford Mail: "We have now reached a situation where those whose drink-related behaviour is worst are those who know the exact location of the zones.

"They simply move, or are moved, to areas where they can legitimately carry on drinking.

"My officers are moving troublemakers on and confiscating alcohol, but this is simply shifting the problem from the zones to fringes of the area.

"Shuffling the problem around the city is in no-one's interest. "The time is fast approaching where I believe we need a designated citywide alcohol-free zone, allowing officers to enforce regulations with discretion."

As reported in the Oxford Mail on Monday, shopkeepers on the edge of the zone in Cowley Road -- between Union Street and Manzil Way -- have been plagued with problems caused by street drinkers.

They said that drinkers gathered outside their premises, shouting abuse at passers-by and vomiting and urinating on the pavements.

One bench, outside The Gameskeeper shop, has become a haven for drinkers -- because it is the first bench outside the alcohol-free zone.

The bench was removed at the weekend and the shop's owner, Carol Benney, has been given a logbook in which she can record antisocial behaviour.

She backed the call for a citywide street drinking ban.

Mr Trotman said the police have been discussing with Oxford City Council how best to deal with alcohol-related disorder and the antisocial elements of some of the street drinking scene. There are 21 designated alcohol-free zones in place.

Susan Brown, the city council's executive member for community safety, said an announcement would be made in the coming weeks about what action would be taken.

She said: "We review alcohol-free zones on a regular basis. We have looked at the problems and talked with the police about a variety of different solutions."