Booze crackdown helps cut violence

Reporter: DAWN MARSDEN
Date online: 11 March 2010

VIOLENT town-centre crime has plummeted thanks to a crackdown on cheap booze promotions.

New figures from Greater Manchester Police reveal a substantial drop in disorder after Oldham Council called time on all inclusive and buy one, get one free offers last year.

Statistics show a 27 per cent drop in night-time crime from April to December, 2009, compared with the same period in 2008, and a 63 per cent drop in serious violent crime over Christmas.

All 22 town centre pubs, bars and clubs faced a review of their licence in March last year in a bid to clamp down on booze-related violence.

Licensees were forced to adhere to strict rules — such as post office-style queues and extra security — if they wanted to run cheap drinks promotions.

Proactive operations by police and trading standards teams further enforced the “zero tolerance” stance on alcohol-related crime and disorder.

The radical approach has now been backed by the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities (AGMA), which has become England’s first region to support proposals for a 50p per unit minimum price in pubs, clubs, off-licences and supermarkets.

Councillor Mark Alcock, cabinet member for environment and infrastructure, said: “These reductions in violent crime are extremely encouraging. Oldham Council and our partners recognised that the availability of cheap alcohol was the chief catalyst behind the disorder we were witnessing.”

Oldham’s police chief, Chief Supt Tim Forber, who is planning a late-night walk around the town centre, said: “It’s encouraging to see that the hard work of the police, Oldham Council and the pubs and clubs has resulted in a drop in alcohol-related violent crime and I’m determined to continue this good work.”