Policing report highlights impact of alcohol misuse and prompts new minimum pricing calls

The publication this month of a Home Affairs Committee report, 'Policing in the 21st Century' has highlighted the impact of alcohol related disorder and prompted further calls for action on minimum pricing. The report says that '70% of police officers believe that attending alcohol-related incidents diverts them away from tackling other kinds of crime.'

The report identifies key findings and makes a number of points and recommendations to improve police effectiveness of addressing alcohol related crime including:

• Police forces perceive alcohol related violence to be on the increase, whilst the 2003 licensing act has spread alcohol related disorder over longer periods
• There should be more done to ensure local authorities are using the powers available to them under the 2003 licensing act to address irresponsible license holders, who are putting increased pressure on police resources
• Increased police powers and tools have not had a significant impact on their ability to reduce alcohol related crime, particularly in relation to Penalty Notices for Disorder (PNDs) and alcohol arrest rerral schemes
• Voluntary partnerhsip schemes such as Pubwatch are encouraged but whilst the principle of Alcohol Disorder Zones is supported, concerns over potential levels of bureacracy exist
• The cheap availabilty of alcohol in the off-trade is fuelling alcohol-related crime and disorder and under-age drinking. A miminum price basis should be set and supermarkets should be prevented from using alcohol as a loss-leader
• Following the KPMG reports damning verdict on the lack of adherence to the industries voluntary code, the standards should be re-issued on a compulsory basis, based on a series of findings from other reviews
• There is not support for the move to increase the minumum legal age of purchasing to 21 from the off-trade, as has been piloted and proposed in Scotland

In summarising its position, the report states: 'We are concerned at the amount of police time spent dealing with alcohol-related crime, with forces now deploying officers for longer periods owing to changes in the licensing laws. We remain unconvinced that Alcohol Disorder Zones will have the desired effect but support the principle of mandatory contributions to policing from alcohol retailers. The practice of loss-leading should be ended and compulsory, enforceable standards for the industry should be introduced.'

A BBC feature on the report, which includes links to several broadcasts on the issue can be found here.