Responding to the publication of the latest statistics from the Crime Survey of England and Wales, the ALMR, the leading body representing licensed hospitality has welcomed the reduction in crime and applauded the good work being carried out by partnership schemes across the UK.
According to the statistics, just over 8 million total crimes were reported throughout the period covering October 2012 to September 2013, representing a 9.6% reduction on the previous 12 months. Additionally, the number of violent crimes reported fell to 1,681,000 a drop of 13.5% compared to the previous 12 months.
Drunk/rowdy reduced problem
There were also reductions in the number of people reporting “a very/fairly big problem” with every category of anti-social behaviour. Furthermore, just 20% of people consider “people being drunk/rowdy in public places” to be a problem in their area while reported incidents of “noisy neighbours or loud parties” has fallen to just 11%.
ALMR Strategic Affairs Director, Kate Nicholls welcomed the news and highlighted the valuable contributions being made by the licensed hospitality sector:
“Crucially, the level of public drunkenness has fallen to just 20%, underlining the continued good work being carried out by licensees through voluntary partnerships and best practice schemes to combat the issue of alcohol-related crime.”
Police believe pubwatch schemes contribute to decrease
Figures released in the recent National Pubwatch survey by Leeds Metropolitan University reinforce the numbers in the Crime Survey for England and Wales, with 79% of police believing that local pubwatch schemes had contributed to a decrease in alcohol-related violence in members’ premises.
Additionally, the benefits of local Best Bar None schemes were also referenced in the Government’s recent National Alcohol Strategy which celebrated the effectiveness of its ability to tackle drunken violence as “spectacular”, mentioning the 60% reduction in violent crime seen in Durham since the introduction of the scheme.
As part of the Government’s response to the alcohol strategy consultation the Home Secretary, Theresa May lauded the action carried out by licensees in their effort to combat irresponsible drinking and emphasised the benefits of locally targeted action above “the sledgehammer of national legislation, which often misses its target”.
Proactive, local partnerships deliver results and should be recognised
Kate Nicholls concluded:
“These figures bear out the idea that proactive partnerships at local levels deliver results when dealing with the issue of alcohol-related crime. Last summer’s National Alcohol Strategy gave credence to the viability and effectiveness of such schemes with the Home Secretary herself favouring partnership schemes such as Best Bar None and Purple Flag above and beyond blanket legislative approaches.
“These reductions in crime, and the voluntary successes which help facilitate them, are something that we want to see being recognised at a local level. Partnership initiatives, rather than heavy-handed regulatory burdens such as Early Morning Restriction Orders and Late Night Levies are, and will continue to be, the best resources for the promotion of licensed retail and the continued reduction in crime.”