Council threat highlights trade's licensing nightmare

The trade's worst fear - that pubs will become easy political targets for local authorities - may be turning into reality.

Worcester City Council is threatening licensees with a "tough new stance" when it takes over responsibility for licensing from magistrates. Its unwelcome statement comes ahead of new licensing laws, which are due to receive Royal Assent next month.

Worcester's licensing committee chairman David Clark said: "From next month, authorities like Worcester City will be assuming total responsibility for all liquor licensing - a move that gives us all the powers we need to stamp down hard on drink-fuelled behaviour."

In fact, there will be a transitional period following Royal Assent when local authorities will draw up licensing policies. This includes a statutory responsibility to consult with the licensed trade.

The statement from Worcester is a stark warning of things to come and is precisely what the trade has feared ever since the shift to local authorities was first proposed.

Vincent Healy, managing director of pub company Ascot Inns, said: "This is exactly what we feared would happen. Local authorities will find it much easier to identify publicans as the root of the problem, rather than look at the wider issues. Public misbehaviour is a problem for society in general.

"Most licensees would be happy to work closely with the new licensing authorities to address the whole issue of the night-time economy, but not if they just come at us with a big stick."

Derek Mellors, Worcester licensee and a member of the local LVA, said: "Licensees in the city are well aware of the problems in the town centre, and we're already working with the council and the local police to try and tackle them."

The LVA hopes to work with the licensing committee in formulating Worcester's policy to ensure that responsible outlets are not penalised by stringent measures designed to tackle any problems.

But as the council prepared to start work on its licensing policy, Mr Clark warned: "From the sickening and disgusting scenes we witnessed on a CCTV video, it's clear that a tough new stance is going to have to be taken. While we would initially expect licensees to work with the council in addressing this problem, if improvements are not made there should be no illusions about the outcome. We will resort to legislative action."

The CCTV footage, which was screened for the committee, showed public urination, vomiting, fighting and other offences.

Mr Clark said the number of pubs and nightclubs running competing drink promotions has increased recently.

"Even the leaflets they issue are a litter problem, and it's clear from the video that the people we saw must have been very drunk when they left the venue - they should not have been served," he added.

Nick Bish, chief executive of the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers, said councils such as Worcester seemed badly informed about the timing and scope of their new powers.

He said: "This sounds like the velvet glove inside the iron fist, and seems to be based on the misbehaviour of some individuals rather than the vision of a thriving new licensing regime."