World Cup pub crackdown
The Government has urged police to increase enforcement of pubs before and during the World Cup, the Morning Advertiser can reveal.
Random and targeted visits to venues, test purchase operations — with action taken before the tournament — and demanding risk assessments are all proposed in the Home Office "guidance notes".
The document, seen by the Morning Advertiser, also suggests police encourage the use of CCTV and "safer glassware" — and be aware of venues that apply for last-minute temporary event notices.
It indicates a tough stance by the Home Office, and helps explain the raft of activity from individual police forces in recent weeks.
The guidance "strongly advises" both "random and targeted visits to licensed premises — with a particular emphasis on pubs and off licence premises".
It recommends forces plan for "targeted visits" of "problem premises" as a priority, adding: "You may wish to demand that such premises.. complete a comprehensive risk assessment".
It recommends closure notices for venues that breach licence conditions, and urges police to "consider implementing a revised baseline standard of CCTV systems" for bars.
"This could either be pursued with individual premises, or through existing voluntary mechanisms such as pubwatch groups, or in conjunction with local business security grants, or equivalent funding initiatives."
It suggests council-run CCTV could be used to point at "threat premises" during key games.
The document adds: "Partners may.. consider reminding premises of the need to use safer glassware or invest in obtaining a large stock of polycarbonate glasses."
Elsewhere, police are advised to "monitor" submissions of TENs on 28 June in time for the final game on 11 July.
Other advice includes running test purchase operations "in both on and off-licensed premise during May — with a view to taking action on failures before the event".
Forces are also advised to write to venues before the tournament "outlining particular expectations, with advice that failure may result in a premises closure or review".
The guidance also lists powers available to police to crackdown on pubs, including emergency closure orders and expedited reviews.
One pub operator said: "The Government seems to think that Armageddon is going to happen. There is someone who is really anti-pub at the Home Office at the moment."
