Trade fears over pub closures by police unfounded
Trade fears that police would use new powers to close hundreds of pubs over the festive season have so far proved unfounded.
The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) said this week that powers to close outlets on-the-spot, brought in on December 1, had not been used by police at either Christmas or New Year, two of the busiest days of the year.
An ACPO spokesman said: "As far as I'm aware there were no closures over Christmas and New Year. Noone has informed us that they have shut down any licensed premises."
Under the new Criminal Police and Justice Act, police can shut down a pub for 24 hours if there is trouble in or around it.
Licensees had feared that they may suffer at the hands of over-zealous police inspectors or be forced to close because of violence that was not related to their pub.
Pubs offering bed and breakfast were also concerned that they may be forced to turn families and children out onto the streets in the middle of the night.
But initial signs suggest there has been little need for police to use the powers.
As far as trade leaders are aware, only one pub, the Exchange Vault pub in Wolverhampton, has been closed under the new powers. It was closed for six hours on December 2 because police feared that football fans would cause disorder after a local derby match.
Tony Payne of the Federation of Licensed Victuallers Associations said: "Thirty-six hour opening at new year offered licensees flexibility and took the pressure off the trade and off the police and the local taxi services.
"It definitely made getting home late at night a lot safer. There were no queues for taxis, less crime and we didn't have binge drinking. Let's hope we get this every year."
Related stories:
DCMS issues guidelines on Criminal Justice and Police Act powers (16 November 2001)
Trade anger over B&B closure row (4 December 2001)
