ACPO Lead Welcomes Licensing Clampdown

Wed, 28 July 2010 Courtesy of: Police Oracle

The ACPO lead on licensing has welcomed government proposals to clamp down on the excesses of the night time economy, claiming that restricted hours on alcohol sales will make the situation “more predictable and manageable”.

In welcoming the Home Office “Rebalancing the Licensing Act” consultation paper, CC Jon Stoddart said officers are dealing with more than a million alcohol-fuelled violent assaults each year and suggested that 24-hour drinking had created extra demands.

Speaking after meeting with Crime Prevention Minister James Brokenshire in London today, CC Stoddart said ACPO is “very supportive” of the government proposals adding: “We are going in the right direction of travel.”

“Any proposals to deal with excessive drinking are to be welcomed by the Police Service.”

He told PoliceOracle.com that his conversation with the Minister had been “extremely productive” and that new measures would encourage more personal responsibility.

As reported on PoliceOracle.com earlier today, Home Secretary Theresa May said that moves to address the “crime and antisocial behaviour all too often associated with binge drinking in the night time economy” are needed.

Among the measures in the consultation paper, the government has pledged to overhaul the Licensing Act to give police and local authorities more powers to refuse licences to – and revoke them from – premises causing problems.

Under the proposals, officers would also have the power to permanently shut down any shops or bars that are found to be persistently selling alcohol to children while doubling the maximum fine for under age sales to £20,000.

Sales of drinks below cost price are also set to be banned while councils will be able to charge more for late night licences to pay for extra policing.

The Home Secretary said the Licensing Act 2005 had not created a vibrant “café culture” but had instead fuelled binge drinking and violence.

CC Stoddard, who is the Chief of Durham Constabulary, shared the sentiment. He added: “Any proposals to deal with excessive drinking are to be welcomed by the Police Service.

“ACPO has expressed concerns in the past about 24-hour licensing and the extra demands it has placed on policing – nationally there are over a million alcohol fuelled violent assaults every year and drinking is a key factor in domestic-related assaults. It also has a major effect on police resources.

He concluded: “With restricted licensing hours we expect policing to become more predictable and more manageable. It should also encourage people to drink more sensibly, and we would advocate a minimum unit price for alcohol.”