New police boss to get tough on yobs

by John Harrington

A proposal by the new chief constable of Northumbria to tackle drunken yobs in the same way that football hooligans are targeted has been welcomed by the trade.

In an interview with the Newcastle Chronicle, chief constable Michael Craik said: "Fifteen or 20 years ago we had huge problems with football hooliganism. Where is that now? We made that go away. By using intelligence and by being proactive, we did it.

"The same rules will apply to people who get drunk in town or on estates and make life miserable for residents."

Bob Senior, chief executive of Ultimate Leisure, called the idea a "great revelation", arguing that targeting the tiny number of troublemakers would have a massive impact on cutting disorder.

Senior said that if a small number of people in a football stadium started trouble, this would inevitably escalate because otherwise passive supporters would be drawn in when they tried to defend themselves.

"If there are 50 people intent on getting away with it, eventually it can become manic.

"There should be no hiding place [for troublemakers]; I think that's what the chief constable is saying ­ We will hunt them down and make sure we sort them out'."

Senior said a proactive approach would be a fairer and more productive solution than the Government's plans for alcohol-disorder zones.

"We are looking for a solution and it's not alcohol-disorder zones," he said. "The one thing they keep running away from is targeting the people who cause the trouble."