The sale of alcohol is important for a country’s economy and pubs are a significant part of community life. The trends in alcohol-related crime and disorder have been moving in the right direction consistently over the past decade in our country.
From my studies, it was found that the harms associated with alcohol remain high. People should be able to go into the evening and night time economy to socialise, eat or enjoy the entertainment their town centre has to offer without the fear of becoming a victim of crime. The lives of the majority of residents of town centres, suburbs and estates should not be affected by the drunk and rowdy behaviour of a minority.
Preventing alcohol-related crime and disorder requires concerted action by all with a stake in the successful operation of the evening and night time economy. Successful crime prevention should be the basis on which public and private sector partners can make their town centres thrive, supporting businesses and providing job opportunities. Achieving this aim will require a strong and sustained commitment to partnership working by local authorities, the police, health partners, businesses and the community.
Government can, and will, create the right framework to allow partnership working to thrive through its management of the system within which decisions about the evening and night time economy are made and by equipping local authorities and the police with the right powers to take action when partnership working breaks down and problems escalate.
It will also be wrong to allocate responsibility solely to those organisations involved in the overall management of the evening and night time economy. Personal responsibility is just as important. Individuals must shoulder their share of responsibility when it comes to decisions they take about drinking to excess, committing acts of violence or disorder, and not challenging the unacceptable behaviour of others. Equally, those selling alcohol need to consider the societal impacts, including the potential risk of crime and disorder, of selling alcohol to those who have drunk too much.
Preventing alcohol-related crime and disorder requires a three-pronged approach. All those with a stake in the evening and night time economy have a responsibility to securing the effectiveness of this approach:
• Improving local intelligence so that decisions taken about the sale of alcohol and the management of the evening and night time economy are based on reliable data and the latest evidence;
• Establishing effective local partnerships where all those involved in the operation and management of the evening and night time economy work together, so that people can enjoy a safe night out without fear of becoming a victim of alcohol-related crime or disorder, whilst also enabling local economies to grow;
• Equipping the law enforcement officers and local authorities with the right powers so they can prevent problems and take swift and decisive action after they have occurred.
Conclusion
Preventing alcohol-related crime and disorder requires concerted action by all with a stake in the successful operation of the evening and night time economy”
