| Share with : |
Close
|
 - del.icio.us
|
 - Digg
|
 - Facebook
|
 - reddit
|
 - StumbleUpon
|
 - Twitter
|
KENT NEWS: A review of 24-hour drinking has been welcomed by the voice of Kent’s police officers who has branded the legislation “a mistake”.
Ian Pointon, chairman of the Kent Police Federation, said late-night boozing had created more problems than it had solved and had resulted in fewer officers being available to fight crime during the day.
His comments follow the announcement by Home Secretary Theresa May that the Government is to crack down on binge-drinking and give communities more power to oppose 24-hour pubs and clubs.
The proposals could also spell the end for anti-social behaviour orders (Asbos), with Mrs May saying a “change in emphasis” was necessary.
Mr Pointon said: “I think the introduction of 24-hour drinking without the requisite change in culture was a mistake.
“The idea was that we would somehow develop a Continental café culture but that hasn’t happened, especially in town centres.
“The feedback from officers is that they’ve had more problems since the 24-hour laws came in.
“They’re also working into the early hours, which means they’re not available at other times of the day when the public would like to see them.
“It’s time to have a long, hard look at the licensing hours coupled with the drinking culture in this country.”
Mr Pointon’s criticism of 24-hour drinking is shared by Kent’s former chief constable Mike Fuller, who warned against its introduction in an interview with KOS Media in January, 2005.
In a follow-up discussion in April, 2006, Mr Fuller said: “I think the Government and health authorities are going to have a very difficult task in changing the culture where young people go out and get totally drunk.
“Now they have a longer period in which to do that.”
According to the Home Office, about one million alcohol-related violent crimes were committed last year, with a fifth of all violent incidents taking place in or around a pub or club.
Mrs May’s plans also include forcing late-night bars to contribute to policing costs and street cleaning, and a ban on the sale of alcohol below cost price.
The latter suggestion will come as a blow to supermarkets which use cut-price beer and alcopop deals to lure shoppers.
Mr Pointon said some such offers were “irresponsible” – a view shared by the operations director of the east Kent-based Thorley Taverns pub chain, Phil Thorley.
He said: “I think 24-hour drinking is a bit of a myth, because so few 24-hour licences were issued and many that were have been rescinded because they weren’t being operated properly.
“It’s easy to blame everything on 24-hour drinking when it’s actually the below-cost selling of alcohol in supermarkets that’s at fault.
“The public are pleased to be able to buy cheap alcohol, but it’s getting in the wrong hands and is unmanageable.
“You’ve only got to enter a local park at night to see who is drinking it and what problems it’s creating.
“Below-cost selling is good for supermarkets because it drives footfall, but it’s a real danger to our society.”
POSTED: 31/07/2010 10:00:00