Kids TV music to combat crime

Related tags Alcohol-related crime

The theme music from children's television programmes is the latest weapon in the fight against alcohol-related crime and disorder.Leicester Police...

The theme music from children's television programmes is the latest weapon in the fight against alcohol-related crime and disorder.

Leicester Police have suggested clubs and pubs play childhood music as the last song of the night in an attempt to calm any potentially volatile situations.

Inspector Daimon Tilley, city centre policing commander, said: "I got the idea from an American professor of psychology I met on a course. His argument was that if such music was played as people leave a club instead of a thumping beat, those people are reminded of their childhood and will not want to seek a confrontation."

Pubs and clubs in the Church Gate area of Leicester are being given the chance to join in the new scheme.

"We are leaving it to the premises to choose what music to play, but Looney Tunes and the Magic Roundabout might feature," Inspector Tilley said.

Wesley Osborne, general manager of Zanzibar, which is taking part in the month-long trial, said: "It's a great idea. We have got to try anything that puts people in a happy frame of mind. I've chosen Mr Benn because it brings back happy memories of my own childhood. If it works we'll get some other records - perhaps Ivor the Engine."

Another measure featuring in the trial is for pubs and clubs to hand out lollipops to late-night revellers when they are leaving the premises. The idea is if the lollies are occupying the hands, mouths and minds of people there could be less chance of a confrontation taking place.

The idea was trialled successfully in Devon earlier this year where police admitted the scheme was not as "zany" as it first sounded. Some pubs introduced lollipops indefinitely because they were such a success.

Now Leicester licensees are hoping the scheme will work for them as well.

Inspector Tilley said: "I have absolutely no idea whether this will work or not. It is clearly a funny idea but it demonstrates just how creative we are going to be in exploring all opportunities to prevent violence in our city."

Related topics Licensing law

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