Make the guilty pubs pay, says ACPO chief

by John Harrington

Pubs should contribute to local policing or medical costs ­ but only those venues that are known to cause problems ­ ACPO (Association of Chief Police Officers) president Chris Fox told a committee of MPs.

Giving evidence to the Home Affairs Committee inquiry into antisocial behaviour, Fox said: "I do not necessarily want to see every premises making a contribution, because most are run perfectly properly."

But he pointed to reports in newspapers that the Licensing Act will save pubs and clubs £2bn over 10 years.

He said: "If areas or premises are causing problems of a nature that requires extra attention, whether it is in accident & emergency or police officers, then Ido not see a reason why they should not pay. That will certainly focus their minds on cleaning up their premises."

Fox also spoke out in favour of deregulated licensing, but stressed that it could only work if local authorities improved their infrastructure.

"At the moment at night we do not have transport in most places around the country, we do not have outlets, we do not have public toilets. So you have people milling about and if you are going to extend hours you have to have an infrastructure to deal with it."

The ACPO president also hit out at the industry for "not regulating itself", and labelled the planning processes of local councils "worse than useless".

On the saturation of pubs and clubs in town centres, Fox also pointed the finger at councils, who "abrogated their responsibilities" in planning the night-time economy.

He also criticised magistrates for issuing licences "inappropriately".