Modern Crime Prevention Strategy Released

The Home Office has released the Modern Crime Prevention Strategy which identifies 6 key drivers of crime, one of which is alcohol. Within the Strategy introduction, it confirms that crime has consistently fallen over the last 20 years. However, whilst traditional crimes such as burglary and street violence have halved, previously hidden crimes like child sexual abuse, rape and domestic violence have become more visible and statistically have increased.

Unfortunately for the hospitality industry, most of crimes referenced in the Strategy can be associated to consumption of alcohol.

A whole chapter of the Strategy is dedicated to alcohol as a driver of crime but one of the stated objectives of the Strategy is to make the night time economy safe so that people can consume alcohol safely without fear of becoming a victim of alcohol related crime or disorder, thereby enabling local economies to grow.

The chapter on alcohol as a driver of crime is worthy of a detailed read.

In brief, the Strategy proposes a three pronged approach to prevention of alcohol related crime and disorder  - improving local intelligence, establishing effective local partnerships and equipping the Police and Local Authorities with the right powers.  It also acknowledges that individuals should shoulder their own share of responsibility when it comes to decisions they take about drinking to excess and subsequently committing acts of violence or disorder.   

Within the partnership section, it is proposed that a new round of Local Alcohol Action Areas be launched, The importance of Local Authorities to creating safe spaces and diversification of the night time economy is discussed and there is continued support for Pubwatch, Best Bar None, Community Alcohol Partnerships and Purple Flag with a view to building positive behaviour change. 

In the increased powers section is a proposal to provide local Authorities and Police with even more powers over and above the considerable number of options currently available – the Government is to consult on a Group Review Intervention Power (GRIP), which will enable Licensing Authorities to consider licence conditions on a group of premises so as to address problems in a certain area.  The Home Office is also looking at powers against individuals with the introduction of sobriety as a Court imposed Community Order to reduce alcohol related re-offending, which may be supported by an electronic monitoring strategy currently being piloted in London which will use GPS technology.  If this is successful the indication is that it will be rolled out across the country before the end of the Parliament. 

The Modern Crime Prevention Strategy is a recommended read for those involved in the sale of alcohol and hospitality and provides a very clear indication of the direction the Government is seeking to adopt during the course of this Parliament.