Response to 24 Hour Drinking Review

Responding to the findings of the review of 24 hour licensing in the news this morning, Jan Berry, Chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, says:

"I don't understand how 24 hour licensing can be deemed an overnight success by the Prime Minister, when by the very admission of his own government we have witnessed a marked rise in alcohol fuelled crime between 3am and 6am and increasing attacks on frontline officers.

"This is exactly the point we raised when the idea of round the clock drinking was first suggested. Without a change of culture and better education on the perils of excessive drinking, 24 licensing would merely extend the hours that trouble spills on to the streets, and that would require more police officers to be made available during the traditionally quieter period.

"The knock on effect was always obvious, and that's exactly what has happened. More police officers are now required to work nights, injury levels are increasing, and this is resulting in the bulk of daytime policing being left to Community Support Officers without the necessary powers, training or equipment to provide the level of crime prevention, deterrent and detection the public deserve.

"I would also reiterate a point the Police Federation has made clear to the government on numerous ocassions. The 24 hour drinking legislation places the responsibility of licensing matters with local authorities, who have a conflict of interest. On the one hand they want to clamp down on any drinking establishments that continually cause problems and result in increased anti-social behaviour and disorder. On the other hand, they make vast sums of revenue from many of these larger pub and club chains. It would therefore be far more sensible to put the licensing decision back into the hands of independent magistrates."