Government goes for pay-for-policing
The government is planning to introduce pay-for-policing on pubs in areas where there is alcohol-related trouble.
Using the banner of 'alcohol disorder zones', government representatives said at a press briefing this morning that they will seek to recover the costs of policing from pubs and bars that consistently add to the problems in town centres.
The aim is to punish irresponsible licensees in designated areas if after an eight-week warning period they have not rectified the disorder encouraged by binge drinking.
The details of the measure have not been outlined yet, but speaking at the briefing culture secretary Tessa Jowell said plans would be considered during a 12-week consultation period on responsible drinking.
"There are two options for fining pubs at this stage," said Ms Jowell. "One is a direct bill to be sent to premises, the other is implementing charges into licensing, identifying irresponsible publicans in this way will also make it more difficult to renew a licence.
"We have a broad idea of the costs of this trouble and it's not just police but also the cost of cleaning towns up and Accident and Emergency departments that need extra funds because of it.
"But this is obviously a complex thing to do and we need a real evidence base from the police."
Also present during the press briefing was home office minister Hazel Blears, minister for licensing Richard Caborn, Local Government Association chair of safer communities board Sally Powell, and Chris Fox, president of the Association of Chief Police Officers.
"The eight-week warning period will act as a yellow card for the trade in these areas," said Mr Fox. "This is not about getting the industry to pay, it's about trying to get individuals to behave."
The briefing outlined other measures to be considered during the 12-week consultation, including the introduction of a 24-hour banning order on selling alcohol where licensees are caught serving underage customers, which could be issued by police or trading standards.
But government representatives at the briefing stressed the 12-week consultation will concentrate on measures to punish individuals.
Also outlined were plans to issue immediate fines to individual troublemakers and 'drinking banning orders' for those who are caught offending three times, excluding them from drinking in a specific area for a set amount of time.
Penalty notices could also be extended to cover young people trying to buy alcohol under age and there will be a review of the existing penalties with a new framework available to police and a code of practice put together with the drinks industry.
Ms Jowell added: "The binge-drinking situation is worse now that it was five years ago and we are looking to punish the perpetrator, make the polluter pay and get individuals to take more responsibility."
