A senior police officer last week caused a media flurry after suggesting 'privately run drunk tanks' should be considered to help deal with alcohol-related disorder.
Chief Constable Adrian Lee said the resources being used to deal with drunken revellers was "public money being used irresponsibly" and called for a debate on the idea. Making the case, the Lee said:
"I do not see why the police service or the health service should pick up the duty of care for someone who has chosen to go out and get so drunk that they cannot look after themselves."
"So why don't we take them to a drunk cell owned by a commercial company and get the commercial company to look after them during the night until they are sober? When that is over we will issue them with a fixed penalty and the company will be able to charge them for their care, which would be at quite significant cost and that might be a significant deterrent."
However the Police Federation says the plan was "neither a viable nor long-term" fix. Certainly there appears little direct evidence that such a scheme would have a detterent effect, although media snapshot polls seemed to indicate support from the majority of the public.
Indeed alcohol-related disorder does take up significant police and health resources, with alcohol a key driver for violent crime. A FactCheck analysis responded to verify the claim nearly half of all violent crime may be alcohol related. Police have also said a single drunk can take up the time of 17 officers and staff, according to a Telegraph article.
What are "drunk tanks"?
Enforced 'drunk tanks' do not exist in the UK, but schemes exist in other countries and various non-mandatory local approaches have been tried in England. According to a Guardian report, enforced 'drunk tanks' originate and still exist in Eastern Europe. However many still do not manage to cover their costs, with the number in Poland having fallen significantly to 34.
In New South Wales, Australia, both enforced and optional "sobering up centres" are being piloted after legislation was recently passed. A factsheet on the sobering up centres says that people can be admitted to the enforced centre after having failed to obey a move-on direction issued by police due to their intoxicated state. A cost recovery fee will be charged which will increase on repeat visits.
Back in England, Alcohol Arrest Referral schemes have been tried but seemingly without success; AAR's did not find measurable reductions in re-offending, although appeared to reduce drinking. Alcohol Diversion schemes have also been piloted, offering offenders the chance to reduce fines by attending an awareness course.
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