Town bans pub glasses after Champagne flute murder

Jay Jay Taylor died after he was stabbed in the neck with a broken Champagne flute in an unprovoked attack earlier this year in Darwen.

A 9pm glassware curfew is set to come into effect, although the council has not yet published a start date.

Funding of £10,000 to support local pubs and bars with the scheme has been announced.

Online petition

An online petition was created in the wake of the 23-year-old’s murder, by a family friend.

Natalie Yates’s petition states: “Alcohol tastes [the] same in carbonated glasses.

“A young man has been murdered. Jay Jay Livesey Taylor lost his life in a vicious, cowardly attack... attacked with a Champagne glass.

“Surely there must be a law made to help prevent another life taken.

"Let his life not be in vain.”

Safe night out

Councillor Phil Riley, executive member for Regeneration on Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: “The council felt it was right that we do what we can to help introduce safety measures to prevent anything like this from this happening again.

“We want everyone to enjoy a safe night out and hope that licence holders will support this measure.”

One individual who signed the petition left the comment: “I work in a bar and drunk people and glass just don't mix, and tragic things like this can happen.”

Another wrote: “Surely at 1am when this occurred, plastic glasses would have made a difference.”

Reducing risk

Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw said: “Recognising the concerns that have been raised following this tragic incident, I am helping to fund this initiative through the local Community Safety Partnership.

“Plastic glasses are designed to lower the risks of crime and help to develop safer communities."

 Jake Berry, MP for Rossendale & Darwen, added: "I'm so pleased to see that the petition that was supported by many of Jay Jay's friends has made a real difference - this will go a long way to making Darwen a safer place for everyone."

Funding breakdown

Of the funding, £5,000 will be from the police, £2,500 from the council and £2,500 from participating venues.

In May, funding was announced for venues in north-east Lincolnshire to start using polycarbonate plastic cups in a bid to reduce violent incidents involving glass.

Government statistics show 5,500 people are attacked with glasses and bottles every year in England and Wales.