Sussex police accused of 'demonising' pubs ahead of Euro 2012
The strongly worded letter called on venues planning to screen the matches to consider using plastic cups, decanting bottled alcohol and hiring extra door supervisors in a bid to re-duce the risk of anti-social behaviour and suggested they fill in and return a Euro 2012 licensed premises questionnaire.
“If, as a result of your screening Euro 2012 football matches, incidents occur on your premises that could have been prevented and which adversely affect the licensing objectives, Sussex Police may consider taking enforcement action against your venue,” the letter warned.
But legal expert Peter Coulson has branded the tactics “heavy-handed” and described the wording as a “veiled threat”.
“It’s overkill. The police are going over the top. It isn’t necessary for publicans to abide by this,” he said. “If you do not consider Euro 2012 a risk, you can say we conducted a risk assessment in the pub and we didn’t consider it a risk.
“Be careful filling this form in, if at all. It is a trawling exercise. “If you put anything down in that box they’re going to hold you to it.”
Jean Irving, Sussex Police’s licensing and public safety manager, accepted the letter was “strongly worded” but said it was necessary for licensees to understand the potential for disorder.
She added: “It clearly states that these are recommendations, and licensees are not legally obliged to impose them if they do not wish to.”
Irving said there were no “veiled threats” in the letter, adding: “We are simply reminding licensees that if serious disorder breaks out and they have failed to take adequate steps to prevent this, the police may consider enforcement.
“This is the stance we would take at any time, not just during periods of potential heightened disorder.”
Tony Leonard, a licensee at the Snowdrop Inn in Lewes, East Sussex, called the questionnaires a “waste of money”.
“It’s the kind of thing that would be sensible to bring up in Pubwatch — there’s no need for that heavy-handed approach,” he added.
A British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) spokesman said: “For licensees receiving these requests from police forces, the best thing to do is refer to BBPA guidance, which was agreed with the Home Office and Association of Chief Police Officers. It should be the benchmark checklist for running safe events.”
