Licensing Act having positive effect, MPs told

MPs have been told of the major effect the Licensing Act is having on cutting alcohol-related crime.

In a letter seen exclusively by The Publican, Rob Hayward, chief executive of the British Beer & Pub Association, has told MPs in London about local authority statistics which suggest a significant reduction in late-night trouble - and give the lie to media claims that later opening is bringing mayhem to city streets.

In the borough of Camden alcohol-related crime fell 15 per cent in the first year of the Act, reversing a rise over the previous three years.

And Hayward points out that in Westminster, which has the largest number of licensed venues in the UK, violent crime between midnight and 4am has dropped 11 per cent since 2004/05.

The letter states: "The Act has now been in force for almost two years and appears to have contributed to a pronounced reduction in incidents of late night violence and anti-social behaviour."

Hayward concludes by saying: "The success of implementing what was the biggest overhaul of the licensing laws in over 100 years has been achieved by co-operation between responsible licensees, the police and local councils and communities, all of whom played their part."

The figures, revealed as part of the councils' consultation on their revised licensing policies, appear to blow a hole in the claims of the mainstream media, the Conservative Party and alcohol temperance groups about the introduction of the Act.

Jim Foudy, licensing manager at Camden Council, said it was fair to speculate that staggered hours had contributed to the drop in alcohol-related crime. "It's certainly a good sign," he said. "There have been many variations and generally people have been granted one or two hours, normally on a Friday or Saturday."

Cllr Audrey Lewis, Westminster City Council's cabinet member for community protection and licensing, said the positive figures were the result of the way in which the council had used its powers under the Act.

"We have been much criticised for having such a strong policy but we believe we have been able to take full advantage of the Act," she said.

Alex Salussolia, chairman of Glendola Leisure and council member of the Westminster Licensees' Association, attributed the results to the slight lengthening of hours in the area, but claimed that if the council had taken a flexible approach the results would be even better.

"Its approach is disproportionate to the reality," he said.

Responding to the figures, Frank Soodeen, a spokesman for Alcohol Concern, said: "This is an interesting piece of research which will further add to the puzzle of what effect the Act has had.

"However, it's still too early to evaluate the overall effect it has had on alcohol-related disorder."

The government is due to complete an evaluation of the Act by the end of the year.