Northern trade summit with police and health chiefs

Trade leaders from northern England are to hold a summit with local police and health chiefs to promote understanding about how licensees operate.

Admiral Taverns managing director Lynne D'Arcy, Thwaites boss Peter Morris, Enterprise Inns regional director Chris Bird and Lee Le Clercq, British Beer and Pub Association regional secretary, will speak at the summit next Tuesday.

Also invited to the event are Manchester's Chief Constable and Cheshire's deputy chief of police.

They will be joined by the regional director of public health, the chief executive of the region's NHS, and the director and deputy director of the Government Office in the North West.

Le Clercq said: "We have been after this meeting for over a year. Unfortunately the health lobby has been reluctant to engage with the hospitality sector choosing instead to push out often misinformed sound bites in print and broadcast media.

"Only through cross-table dialogue can we begin to convince them what a great industry we represent and how the vast majority of licensees operate responsibly and conscientiously.

"Beer too has been much maligned. It's not the product that's a problem; it's the minority who sadly abuse it that have to be challenged. We hope this will be the beginning of a new and vibrant relationship with health professionals and one in which we can work together to achieve what are largely common aims."

Public affairs directors from the Co-op and Asda will also attend the meeting at Manchester's Midland Hotel on 17 March.