FIRST it was beggars, now the police are targeting town-centre drunks. Officers are preparing to use tough new measures to keep Swindon's shopping core free of street-drinkers.

They want to take out Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) against troublesome can-swilling vagrants.

Favourite drinking haunts are the bus station off Fleming Way, Wharf Green by McDonald's and The Parade.

The first order is already being prepared against a man police say is one of Swindon's most notorious drinkers.

Besides intimidating pedestrians, police claim the man horrifies shoppers by defecating in public.

Town centre community beat officer PC Andy Alexander said: "We have used old fashioned policing methods, like remove their drink and moving them on, and a few have gone on to other places.

"But a hardcore of drinkers is refusing to move, and unfortunately they are the more troublesome sort.

"The town centre is an alcohol-free zone, but this doesn't put them off.

"ASBOs are designed to tackle the fear of crime, and because of the high volume of people using the area, we feel they are necessary.

"For example, we have a lot of young mums with kids, and they can find these people quite frightening.

"They feel they can't sit at the bus station because of them."

Bus operator Stagecoach says public drinkers give visitors a grim first impression of Swindon.

Operations manager Richard Hall said: "It's really off-putting for visitors, many of whom have travelled from other parts of the country on National Express.

"It's been a problem for some time, and doesn't give a good impression of the town."

The ASBOs which make it a criminal offence for individuals to enter specified areas will be overseen by the police and Swindon's crime and disorder unit.

Several have been used to stop teenage louts terrorising their neighbourhoods and to ban prostitutes from entering the red light district around Manchester Road.

The clampdown comes six months after beggars were given the boot from the centre.

Besides moving vagrants on, a poster campaign was launched urging shoppers not to give them cash.

Police say most of the money is spent on drugs.

An appeal was started to collect cash for homeless charities.

Tamash Lal