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244/2000 3 August 2000 ACTION PLAN TO TACKLE ALCOHOL RELATED CRIME An ambitious action plan to help combat underage drinking, reduce public drunkenness and prevent alcohol related violence was unveiled by Home Office Minister Charles Clarke today as part of the Government''s on-going drive to combat alcohol related crime and disorder. While almost 90 per cent of the UK population enjoys alcohol, in the most part without causing difficulties for themselves or others, alcohol misuse contributes significantly to crime levels. Over 70 per cent of the local crime audits conducted by crime and disorder partnerships identified alcohol as an issue. Over 40 per cent of the audit documents highlighted drunkenness as an issue and 60 per cent related public order problems to alcohol. Launching the Action Plan Charles Clarke said: "The Government is determined to tackle the problem of alcohol-related crime by giving the police and local authorities the support and powers they need to deal with unacceptable, loutish behaviour. This includes introducing legislation where necessary. "We know that the rise in violent crime is in part related to alcohol. This must be combated. "Public drunkenness can give rise to serious problems of disorderly conduct, nuisance, criminal damage and alcohol-related assaults, particularly in the proximity of licensed premises at closing time. In addition, it can increase fear of crime and so reduce the quality of life for many people. This is clearly unacceptable. "I am also very concerned that we address the issue of underage drinking. We know that it substantially increases the likelihood of young people becoming involved in both disorderly and criminal behaviour and can cause problems for them later on in life through poor health and reduced employment prospects. "I am delighted that alcohol suppliers and retailers are working with us on this issue. They have already put in place a range of initiatives to help to tackle alcohol related problems, including underage drinking. But I know there is more to be done and I look forward to working with them to make sure that best practice is found in every pub, club and off licence across the country." Measures included in the Action Plan include: - Tough new powers for the police to enable them to close premises to deal effectively with violent and disorderly behaviour; - Consideration to be given to the introduction of legislation to provide an adoptive power in place of existing byelaws to prevent the consumption of alcohol and associated misbehaviour in specified public places, and to allow the police to seize open bottles, glasses or cans; - Support for "Proof of Age" schemes by introducing test purchasing and putting a positive duty on retailers not to sell alcohol unless the age of the purchaser is known; - Consideration to be given to the use of Fixed Penalty Notices as an effective and speedy response to minor offences of public drunkenness; - Greater use to be made of information sharing schemes - such as Pub-watch schemes - to keep troublemakers from pubs and clubs; - Support wider adoption of good practice in preventing alcohol-related problems on licensed premises, including the exclusion of troublemakers and the refusal to sell alcohol to those who are already intoxicated; - Wider use of toughened or plastic drinking glasses in pubs and bars; and - The Home Office to issue a good practice "toolkit" on tackling alcohol and crime. Welcoming the launch Alcohol Concern Director Eric Appleby said: "Alcohol Concern welcomes the high profile being given to addressing alcohol-related offending by the Home Office - and hopes to see positive, urgent action to address the underlying alcohol problems through a national strategy on alcohol." The Brewers and Licensed Retailers Association (BLRA) Chief Executive Rob Hayward said: "The BLRA is pleased to be working with the Home Office and other agencies, including the police, to achieve best possible practice throughout the industry. Every effort must be made to end the belief that the drunken yob is an acceptable or inevitable face of our society. The Action Plan builds on existing good practice and has been prepared following two Home Office led alcohol and crime seminars which have drawn on the support and commitment of a wide range of interested parties including the police, local authorities, representatives of the licencing trade, magistrates and others. A further seminar will be held next month. A number of the measures outlined in the Action Plan are already being pursued by the Government in the White Paper Time for Reform: Proposals for the Modernisation of our Licencing Laws, published in April 2000. Notes to editors 1. A summary of the measures in the Action Plan is attached. A full copy of the Action Plan and the licencing White Paper can be found on the Home Office website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk 2. Details of Pubwatch schemes can be obtained from the National Pubwatch Steering Committee on 01707 650095. 3. The Department of Health is to publish the Government''s proposals for a comprehensive national alcohol strategy later this year. 4. Alcohol misuse is heavily linked to crime levels and it has been estimated that 40 per cent of violent crime, 78 per cent of assaults and 88 per cent of criminal damage cases are committed while the offender is under the influence of alcohol 5. Research on alcohol and violent crime has consistently shown that a high proportion of violent crime (50% to 80%), including assault, rape and homicide, is committed by intoxicated persons. Studies of violent offenders have found them much more likely to be heavy drinkers. Some studies have shown that alcohol consumption by young men increases the likelihood that the behaviour of others will be seen as insulting or challenging, and that alcohol increases the tendency of male drinkers to project aggression onto others and to respond to imagined hostile behaviour more aggressively as a result. 6. Around 125,000 people suffer facial injuries in violent circumstances each year in Britain. In the majority of cases, either the victim or the assailant had been drinking alcohol. There are around 5,000 "glassings" each year, in which a smashed beer glass is used as a dangerous weapon. ALCOHOL RELATED CRIME ACTION PLAN SUMMARY OF KEY ACTIONS Under age drinking - Rigorous enforcement of the legislative provisions set out in the Licensing Acts of 1964 and 1988 to prevent the sale of alcohol to under 18s. - The provisions of the Confiscation of Alcohol (Young Persons) Act 1997 to be widely used to reduce the incidence of under age drinking and associated nuisance in public places. - More widespread use of "Proof of Age" schemes to restrict under 18s'' access to alcohol in licensed premises. - Establish whether more can be done to strengthen alcohol education for young people and adults. Public drunkenness - More widespread adoption of good practice in preventing alcohol-related problems on licensed premises, including: - exclusion of troublemakers; - a refusal to sell alcohol to those who are already intoxicated - good design and management of premises to avoid factors which can increase the potential for disorder. - Tough new powers for the police to enable them to close premises to deal effectively with violent and disorderly behaviour. - Consideration of primary legislation to provide an adoptive power in place of existing byelaws to: - prevent the consumption of alcohol and associated misbehaviour in specified public places, and - allow the police to seize open bottles, glasses or cans. - Consideration to be given to the use of Fixed Penalty Notices as an effective and speedy response to minor offences of public drunkenness. - Targeting of hotspots associated with alcohol-related crime and disorder. - Greater use to be made of information sharing schemes - such as Pub-watch schemes - to keep troublemakers from pubs and clubs. - Support the role of both bar staff and door supervisors in helping to reduce incidents of disorder on licensed premises. - More widespread use of toughened drinking glasses in pubs and bars. beer in bottles in pubs and clubs. - Launch good practice "toolkit" on tackling alcohol and crime