Licensing Act no cure for alcohol disorder, say councils

The Licensing Act has failed to prevent alcohol-fuelled disorder, according to local authorities across the country.

In a survey of councils, police and NHS trusts the majority said that the 2003 Act - which allowed greater flexibility on opening times - had made no impact on crime levels.

Respondents also said it had left council taxpayers to pick up a £100m bill for introducing the measures.

However industry leaders have indicated councils are trying to use the results to get more government funding.

Nick Bish, chief executive of the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers, said: "It would be fair to say the statistics do not match the government's own research. The councils obviously want money from central government but nobody told them to spend the money they have spent.

"The important thing is pubs, bars and restaurants are working really hard to deliver their vision of Licensing Act reform by investing in security measures and improving customer services all round."

In the Local Government Association (LGA survey ) 51 local councils, 49 primary care trusts (PCTs) and 20 police authorities were quizzed.

Findings shows that seven out of 10 police authorities, PCTs and councils reported an increase or no change in alcohol-related incidents.

Meanwhile, half of police authorities report that the Act has simply led to alcohol-related disorder occurring later at night than before.

And 86 per cent of health authorities and 94 per cent of councils reported an increased pressure on resources, mainly through a rise in A&E admissions

Sir Simon Milton, chairman of the LGA, said: "The new drinks laws have made no impact whatsoever on reducing the alcohol-related violence that blights town centres and turns them into no-go areas on a Friday and Saturday night."

He added: "The report also clearly shows the real financial strain that the new laws have had on councils, hospitals and other local services.

"Hospitals and the police are finding that they are called into action 24 hours a day, stopping disruption, breaking up fights and patching up the walking wounded."

A spokesman for the British Beer & Pub Association criticised his comments.

He said: "We suggest Sir Simon Milton should go back and re-read the introduction, which he wrote, to the Westminster Licensing Policy which made note of the declining rate of late night violent crime within his own authority.

"Similar statements made in a host of other licensing policies across the country demonstrate this to be the case for the vast majority, this proving that recent statements are completely inaccurate and must be motivated by other causes."

The LGA survey seems to contradict a Home Office report that was leaked to The Publican​ in February which indicated that there were drops in both violent crime and A&E admissions in the first year of the Act (2005).

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