Leaked report reveals crime down since Licensing Act

Fears the Licensing Act would lead to widespread Armageddon are set to be banished by the Home Office's official review of the legislation.

The eagerly-awaited report, seen by The Publican​, reveals an overall three per cent fall in violent crime and two per cent drop in A&E admissions in the first year of the Act.

It also notes that calls to police about disorder either did not change or "showed statistically significant reductions".

The report's conclusion states: "Overall levels of crime associated with the night-time economy remain largely unchanged, and there has been a small fall in serious crimes of violence - possibly as a consequence of the changes."

It later states: "It is clear that the chaos feared and predicted by the critics of the Act has not come about."

The 42-page document, due to be a joint publication with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, was expected to be released on Tuesday but is understood to have been delayed after intervention by 10 Downing Street.

The review is based on the effect the Act has had on five towns and cities: Birmingham, Blackpool, Croydon, Guildford and Nottingham.

Violent crime fell in Croydon (16 per cent) and Blackpool (11 per cent), the report shows, which uses evidence from the British Crime Survey and a phone survey of police licensing officers.

Concerns

However not all the report is positive. It says there is no evidence relaxing opening hours has "significantly reduced" crime and disorder. It also shows violent crime rose in Guildford (12 per cent), Birmingham (six per cent) and Nottingham (three per cent).

Further concern is raised by a sharp rise in the "small number of incidents occurring between 3am and 5am".

But as many in the trade had previously said, there has only been a "modest" increase in opening hours by pubs, the report notes, and "no change in frequency of pub usage".

It later highlights that pubs have seen "no increase in trade or profits as a result of extended hours".

Also of some concern to the trade will be the report's focus on the on-trade, with hardly any mention of supermarkets and off-licences.

No 24-hour drinking

Commenting on the Birmingham and Nottingham figures, Richard Matthews, the British Beer & Pub Association's Midlands secretary, said: "I'm surprised by these figures from the Midlands because things are looking a lot more positive in these areas.

"Both cities have Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) and hold regular licensing forums with police and fire services.

"And as we know the idea of 24-hour drinking just hasn't happened, with most places just getting an extra half an hour or so."

At the Angel Inn, in Royton, Greater Manchester, licensee Martin Jones, said: "It's 110 per cent better since the changes. Everybody is more aware of their responsibilities and the police are more visible and not afraid to use their powers."

A spokesman for Alcohol Concern admitted that most of the fears expressed about the Act had "not been realised". But he added: "At the same time there has not been a dramatic decline in the volume of crime and disorder, nor has it for residents across the country really improved their quality of life."

A Home Office spokesman said: "The joint DCMS and Home Office report into the impact of the Licensing Act 2003 is still being finalised and will be published shortly."

"It remains the case that 24-hour licences are the exception rather than the rule with pubs and bars with extended licences making up about half a percent of all licensees. The Act has not led to 24 hour drinking — most premises have simply added an extra hour or two at weekends."

The report's main conclusions:

• Fears the legislation would lead to '24-hour drinking' have not been realised.

• While the majority of pubs have extended their hours, most of these extensions have been short. Evidence suggests that consumption has not altered, although some people are drinking until later.

• There are signs crimes involving serious violence may have reduced.

• Police, local authorities and licensees generally welcomed the changes and the new powers it gave them.

• The main conclusion is that licensing regimes may be one factor in effecting change to the country's drinking culture, but they do not appear to be the critical factor.