Plans for a borough-wide alcohol exclusion zone in Harrow have been welcomed by a police sergeant.

Sergeant Richard Irlen, of Greenhill safer neighbourhood team, said: "To have the whole borough included in the zone would be fantastic.

"There are small pockets at the moment where people drinking on the streets is a problem. This can upset residents, so I think it will be a good thing if they do it."

The current alcohol exclusion zone includes Wealdstone, West Harrow, Roxeth, South Harrow, Headstone and Harrow town centre.

Harrow Council has proposed for the zone to cover the whole of the borough.

Last week, the safer neighbourhood team was cracking down on street drinkers.

The Harrow Times joined team members as they patrolled the alcohol exclusion zone.

We visited Kenton and Byron Recreational Grounds, High Street, Wealdstone, and Harrow town centre, looking for people drinking in public.

PCSO Adnan Nadeem, who spoke to people caught with alcohol, said he has not had any problems during the crackdown.

He said: "As long as you build up a rapport with them, there is no reason why there should be any kind of friction.

"Most people don't know the exclusion zone exists so we tell them about it and explain why it is in place."

During a stop, PCSO Nadeem explained alcohol was not allowed on the street, confiscated it, and showed the person a map of the area covered by the zone.

The night before, he caught a group of 16-year-old girls drinking in Harrow-on-the-Hill while out for someone's birthday.

But he thinks more people break the rules of the zone when during the summer when the weather is better.

Sergeant Irlen believes enforcing the alcohol exclusion zone helps officers to do a better job at the same time.

He said: "While doing these patrols, it gives us time to patrol properly, meet people and occasionally catch people smoking drugs.

"It is also reassuring for residents to see police officers out on the beat."

The council's proposal for a borough-wide zone goes before the licensing and general purposes committee on Monday, March 3.