Pat Dollard | Young Americans

Telegraph:

Labour’s laws on 24-hour drinking were condemned by police yesterday as new figures showed that officers were having to deal with thousands of extra alcohol-related crimes a month since restrictions were relaxed.

On Tuesday, the Government will release the results of a major review ordered by Gordon Brown into the impact of the move to let pubs and clubs open all night.

Jacqui Smith, the Home Secretary, has already disclosed that the eight-month study will conclude that the police are not having to face any additional drink-fuelled trouble on the streets.

However, an investigation has uncovered widespread evidence that many forces have experienced a large increase in incidents since the law change in November 2005.

The Daily Telegraph used the Freedom of Information Act to ask all 43 forces in England and Wales for details of alcohol-related incidents, as well as assaults, harassment and criminal damage crimes over the past two years.

In the 12 forces that kept details of alcohol-related anti-social incidents there was an overall increase of 4,300 or 46 per cent to 13,500 a month. If this rise was repeated across England and Wales it would amount to an extra 180,000 crimes every year.

In addition, 16 forces reported a five per cent increase in alcohol-related assaults, harassment and criminal damage crimes.

Rank-and-file officers and opposition MPs said the figures showed the true effect of 24-hour drinking and called for the review properly to reflect the impact of the laws.

Jan Berry, the chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, said: “Front line police officers are continually being called on to deal with alcohol-fuelled confrontational situations.

“We warned that changing licensing hours without changing the drinking culture would cause a drain on our limited resources.”

Forces were now taking officers off the streets during the day to police through the night because of the extended drinking hours, she said.

“The licensing laws mean that pubs and clubs close at different times. It is taking police off their beat during the day,” she added.

David Davis, the shadow home secretary, said: “This is yet more evidence of the absolute misery that the Government has inflicted on towns and communities up and down the country.

“Gordon Brown should stop dithering and start acting to restore order to our streets.”

In large city forces such as Greater Manchester there was a big jump in alcohol-related incidents, up 56 per cent from 3,501 in October 2005 to 5,466 in November last year.

In Surrey, the figures were up across the board in the two years to November 2007, with alcohol-related assaults doubling and anti-social behaviour incidents trebling.

Some forces did report a decline in incidents but experts said the figures raised questions about the Government’s alcohol strategy.

Richard Garside, the director of the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies, said: “This highlights the need for better information and a more open debate on the impact of liberalised licensing laws.”

Frank Soodeen, a spokesman for Alcohol Concern, said: “These figures reveal only what any reasonable person would have expected.”

He said the legislation was “dangerously tilted towards the needs of the drinks industry with licensees holding virtually every card during the review and appeals process”.

“The licensing laws mean that pubs and clubs close at different times. It is taking police off their beat during the day,” she added.

David Davis, the shadow home secretary, said: “This is yet more evidence of the absolute misery that the Government has inflicted on towns and communities up and down the country.

“Gordon Brown should stop dithering and start acting to restore order to our streets.”

In large city forces such as Greater Manchester there was a big jump in alcohol-related incidents, up 56 per cent from 3,501 in October 2005 to 5,466 in November last year.

In Surrey, the figures were up across the board in the two years to November 2007, with alcohol-related assaults doubling and anti-social behaviour incidents trebling.

Some forces did report a decline in incidents but experts said the figures raised questions about the Government’s alcohol strategy.

Richard Garside, the director of the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies, said: “This highlights the need for better information and a more open debate on the impact of liberalised licensing laws.”

Frank Soodeen, a spokesman for Alcohol Concern, said: “These figures reveal only what any reasonable person would have expected.”

He said the legislation was “dangerously tilted towards the needs of the drinks industry with licensees holding virtually every card during the review and appeals process”.