But plans to curb street drinking across Doncaster by introducing similar booze bans may be shelved - after other areas already under surveillance saw an INCREASE in crime.

Designated Public Place Orders (DPPOs) were introduced in nine neighbourhoods last summer - handing police the powers to confiscate drinks and fine, or even arrest, troublemakers.

But according to the latest figures some street drinking hot-spots have seen an increase in criminal damage and youth nuisance since the new legislation was introduced in August 2007.

Rossington, Kirk Sandall, Edenthorpe and Barnby Dun, Armthorpe, Stainforth, Bentley, as well as Balby and Hexthorpe were all chosen to receive DPPOs last year. Several councillors now want the whole of Doncaster to be covered by an order.

However, Mayor Martin Winter has written to Conisbrough and Denaby councillor Craig Sahman, chair of the borough's safer, stronger and sustainable communities overview and scrutiny committee.

In the letter the elected mayor reveals that problems in Bentley and Rossington have increased following the introduction of DPPOs - and questions the value of the orders. He says street drinking incidents in Bentley increased by 18 per cent between October 2007 and March 2008 compared to April and September 2007, although criminal damage was reduced by five per cent. Rossington, meanwhile, saw a 50 per cent drop in street drinking incidents over the same time period - but criminal damage rose by 21 per cent and youth nuisance increased by 17 per cent.

But in Mexborough, one of the first areas in the borough to be given a DPPO, there was a 69 per cent drop in street drinking incidents over the last two years.

Mr Winter adds: "From these statistics alone, I do not believe that they make an overwhelming case for the wider use of DPPOs.

"Clearly, other sources of information need to be considered in any analysis, such as how each individual DPPO is managed and resourced.

"Therefore, I have asked for a wider analysis of the available information, in order to determine whether further areas would benefit from a DPPO."

A further examination and analysis of Doncaster's existing DPPOs is expected to be completed by the end of the summer.