Manchester police Police crackdown on drunken crime
A total of 529 people have been arrested in Greater Manchester in a major police operation targeting alcohol-related violent crime, according BBC and Guardian reports. The number of arrests is the largest for an single police operation and involved up to 3,000 police officers and staff. Deputy Chief Constable Simon Byrne said:
"We want to send out the message that if you've committed a crime we're after you, and if you're intent on alcohol-fuelled crime you'll see a lot more of this. We know who has committed crimes and we have got the resources in place to arrest them, bring them in and charge them.
Home Office commissions toughened plastic glasses
The Home Office has commissioned the Design Council to develop a replacement pint glass in order to reduce the 5,500 victims of attacks from glasses and bottles every year in England and Wales. Pint glass related injuries are reported to cost the tax payer £100m a year in police and NHS bills.
The British Beer and Pub Association spoke out against the move, arguing that drinkers prefer traditional pint glasses and that "It would impose another cost on [the pub trade]. Red tape is already coming from all sides." This Guardian article in the comment section also provoked general displeasure at the proposals, though reaction seems to be based on the assumption that glasses in all pubs would be replaced, rather than just those associated with violence. Results of the 'Design out crime' project will be released in December. See this BBC story for more.
Bouncers in Nottingham to pilot lapel cameras
The Nottingham Leisure Partnership is funding a pilot that will enable door-staff in Nottingham's alcohol-related crime hot-spots to record footage via small body mounted cameras. The pilot aims to improve the safety for staff as well as being a potential source of evidence for alcohol fuelled violence. See this local news story
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