Members of the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) have received a report from the Mayor on the proposal of an alcohol sobriety scheme for London:
'The compulsory alcohol sobriety scheme is an enforcement approach providing specific powers for the court to order sobriety as an order for alcohol related violence offences. The Mayor is tabling an amendment to the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill for changes in the current law to enable the courts to make this order. The compulsory alcohol requirement will involve twice daily testing and failure of the test will result in immediate breach and sanctions, such as custody.'
'It is based around some key principles:
- The judges opt to use compulsory sobriety as a sentencing option instead of choosing to incarcerate offenders.
- The convicted individual is required to check into a designated venue twice daily to be breathalysed for alcohol consumption.
- If the terms of the sentence are breached, the individual is arrested, put into a police cell over night and presented to the judge the following day. The judge has the discretion to decide what happens to the offender, for example incarcerate them, put them back on community sentence etc.
- Individuals pay for their testing.'
The Evening Standard reported the news, highlighting high levels of alcohol-related violence in the capital. However the idea attracted scepticism when announced last year; Don Shenker of Alcohol Concern said he was "dubious about the long term success", instead suggesting alcohol arrest referral programmes required further funding.
Currently Alcohol Treatment Requirements (ATRs) are often used as a voluntary alternative to custodial sentences for those with alcohol dependency. See here for full guidance on addressing alcohol-related offending, and recent documents on IBA for offenders.
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