A CHILDS Hill councillor will call for a ban on street drinking in the borough tonight.

Liberal Democrat councillor Monroe Palmer has tabled a motion in tonight's Barnet Council meeting drawing attention to a rise in street drinkers in Golders Green and Cricklewood.

Mr Palmer said that at a public meeting in Cricklewood in June residents expressed a desire to ban street drinking in Barnet, following the lead of neighbouring Brent and Camden.

He has formally requested the extension of existing alcohol-free zones to cover Golders Green and Cricklewood town centres and is encouraging the council to consider a borough-wide ban.

In a report submitted to a licensing sub-committee last month, Barnet Police licensing officer Sergeant Mark Altman said the problems of street drinking have been exacerbated by the recession.

Sergeant Altman wrote that it was a particular problem in the Golders Green and Childs Hill wards.

He told the committee: “Several wards across the borough have seen an increase in street-drinking and alcohol-related disorder that is directly linked to the consumption of alcohol in public places.

“Significant numbers of street drinkers are causing concern to both the police and agencies involved with treating alcoholism."

The council will vote on Mr Palmer's motion tonight.