Tuppen calls on Blunkett to axe pay-for-policing plan
Ted Tuppen, chairman of the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA), has called on Home Secretary David Blunkett to abandon his plans to force pubs to pay for policing.
It is understood that there is a division in the government over the issue, but Mr Blunkett is spearheading attempts to push the plans back on to the agenda.
He wants local communities, including pubs, to pay £10,000 a year towards the cost of a new category of local officers.
But in a letter to the minister, Mr Tuppen said his approach was "misdirected". (Click hereto read the letter in full).
"More policing may indeed patch over and manage the problem, but will not solve it," he writes.
"You will alienate the responsible majority by asking them to pay for the action of the irresponsible few.
"The British pub is not the pariah which you seek to suggest but the home of responsible drinking."
Mr Tuppen is hoping to reassure the minister that the majority of pubs are responsible and should not be forced to pay for policing because of a few rogue operators.
Chris Scholey, licensee of the Bedford in Balham, South London, said: "I don't think Mr Blunkett can blanket-fee an industry. I think it is insane and just another thing for licensees to deal with.
"I don't think there is a licensee in the country who can take another cost to their business. Any irresponsible licensee should be dealt with accordingly."
A spokesman for the Home Office said: "On the issue of licensees contributing towards police costs no decision has yet been taken. The government is considering its position."
However, he did confirm that the Home Office was looking at suitable legislation to force businesses to pay.
There was concern that pubs were being targeted for funding at the end of last year when the government "Big Conversation" initiative asked the public for its views on whether pubs should pay for policing.
Anti-Social Behaviour Bill
At the beginning of 2003 the Home Office was considering forcing the trade to pay for policing through the Anti-Social Behaviour Bill. Prime Minister Tony Blair was outraged at the proposed levy and it was dropped. He was rumoured to be reluctant to add further burdens on the industry, which is worth billions to the UK Treasury.
