Met police chief leads fresh reform criticism

by Ewan Turney

The Government's liberalisation of licensing hours received another high-profile verbal bashing over the festive period with London's top cop Sir John Stevens leading the way.

Met police commissioner Stevens said that plans for liberalising opening hours needed to be "slowed down" and given "more consideration". Stevens claimed that staggered closing times would actually require more police on the streets for a greater amount of time and would deflect resources from other areas as a result. "The fact that large groups of people will be coming out at 3am or 4am will mean that we have to man the streets," he said.

The Commissioner also added that binge drinking was a growing problem in the country and one that could account for the 40% rise in assaults on police officers this year.

Nottinghamshire chief constable Stephen Green, of Panorama fame, was more scathing in his criticism to the Home Affairs Select Committee on antisocial behaviour. "If we want 24 hours of hell, let's keep on the way we're going," he said. He warned it was "crunch time" for the industry to be made responsible for the disorder arising from happy hours and drinks promotions.

Finally, the Royal College of Physicians waded into the debate stating that Britain is suffering from an "epidemic of alcohol-related harm". Professor Ian Gilmore told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "To extend the licensing hours flies in the face of common sense as well as the evidence we have got." He added that by staggering closing times, the Government was attempting to manage drunkenness rather than halt it.

However, trade leaders have dismissed the latest round of criticism as misguided and lacking in an understanding of the true situation. British Beer & Pub Asso-ciation communications manager Christine Milburn said: "The constant reference to 24-hour opening is not what the new laws are about. They are about flexibility. We remain supportive of the Government's plans."

She said that according to De-partment for Culture Media & Sport estimates, only 1% to 2% of all licensees ­ mostly large supermarkers ­ were expected to apply for 24-hour licences.