Crackdown on Licencing Law will Benefit Town, says Pugh

Monday, 16 August 2010

Local MP John Pugh has welcomed the coalition Government's plans to crackdown on licencing laws. The Home Office said there were almost one million alcohol-related violent crimes last year - with a fifth of all violent incidents taking place in or around a pub or club, and almost two-thirds of these happening at night.

Figures show that there are more than 7,000 premises licensed to sell alcohol 24 hours a day in England and Wales.

"There is a high police presence in our town on a Friday and Saturday night. These police are mostly here because of the amount of people that pour out of bars at four, five and even six in the morning," says Dr Pugh.

"One of the provisions set down in the agreement is that bars applying for these later licences should pay more in licensing fees to cover the extra policing costs that they incur.

"If pub and bar owners know that they will have to pay more for this, they might be discouraged from applying. At the moment many publicans apply for licences simply because other bars have one, and of course they want to be competitive.

"However, if they are faced with paying more for the licences then bars will be discouraged from applying for them. At the moment many are applying simply because the option is there, and this is encouraging more people to drink later and later into the night, and increasing the risk of violent behaviour.

“The plans would also allow for licencing authorities to assess the full impact on disorder and public health when deciding applications, and  will allow an extension of closure orders on problem premises and automatic licence reviews. These measures will ensure that Southport’s streets are made safer without damaging the night time economy.”