Minister hails Newquay alcohol plan
Home Office minister James Brokenshire is urging councils across the country to take note of how Newquay in Cornwall has tackled alcohol-related problems.
Alcohol charity Drinkaware today revealed that Newquay has reduced alcohol related rowdy behaviour by 22%, anti-social behaviour by 19% and theft by 15% in the past year.
The headline figures also included no deaths or serious injuries, drug offences down 14%, violence down 9% and sexual offences down 7%.
The action follows two alcohol related deaths last year in Newquay, forcing Devon and Cornwall Police and Cornwall Council to form Newquay Safe Partnership.
Cornwall Council received the Local Authority Award at the Morning Advertiser's Responsible Drinks Retailing Awards earlier this year.
At a Parliamentary reception at the Houses of Commons, Drinkaware released "Local responses to national alcohol issues", outlining the results from its work with Newquay Safe this year.
Exemplar model
The reception focused on the impact of the initiative and hailed Newquay as an "exemplary model" for future partnership schemes for towns and cities across the UK.
In the foreword to the report, Brokenshire said: "My team at the Home Office will be digesting the lessons learnt in Newquay, and I urge other communities and councils to use the experiences for the benefit of their own areas.
"This was more than just the usual 'crack down'. The measures were coordinated and imaginative. Resources were used effectively, focussing on the quality of results not quantity of money.
"We will ensure that local people have greater control over pubs, clubs and other licensed premises. We will allow local authorities to charge more for late-night licences, which they will then be able to plough back into the late-night policing in their areas.
"We will double the fine for under-age sales and we will allow authorities permanently to shut down any shop or bar that persistently sells alcohol to children."
Chris Sorek, Chief Executive of Drinkaware added: "The lessons learned from the Newquay Safe Partnership will be invaluable for many other local UK communities struggling to tackle alcohol misuse.
"Sharing knowledge and experience is one of the key ways that, together, we can minimise the harm caused by alcohol misuse both locally and nationally."
