Croydon Council set to back new controls to tackle alcohol-related crime in borough
Ian Austen
TOUGHER measures to cut alcohol-related crime across the borough are expected to be backed by Croydon Council.
These include a charge on pubs and clubs in the town to pay for more police.
Support for greater controls over the sale of alcohol has come from Steve O'Connell, the cabinet member for public safety, as figures for the effect of alcohol on crime levels and on people's health were published this week.
They show that 3,700 alcohol-related crimes were committed in Croydon in the 2008/09 financial year, with 2,500 of these involving some form of violence.
Both the overall and violent crime totals were up slightly on the previous year but down from peaks four years earlier when the overall figure stood at more than 4,000.
But, with both statistics, Croydon is below the average totals for London as a whole.
Cllr O'Connell cited the local introduction of street bans on drinking alcohol, dispersal orders and the start of the Best Bar None competition encouraging pubs and clubs to promote sensible drinking, as factors behind a decline in alcohol related-crime since 2004.
He did, however, accept that more needs to be done to bring the figures down further.
And he believes Government proposals which are out for consultation would help with that.
Cllr O'Connell said: "There are a number of points raised by the Government but there are three in particular which have my immediate support.
"I welcome the suggestion that a levy could be imposed on licensed premises which could be used by the council to help finance more police officers."
He also believes more discretion should be granted to councils in granting licences and that there should be a ban on below-cost alcohol sales in both supermarkets and as promotion deals in licensed premises.
The latest figures are contained in a wider national report looking at alcohol and health.
It shows that 53 men and 26 women died in Croydon from conditions specifically caused by alcohol in 2008/09.
A further 58 men and 27 women are estimated to have died in Croydon from conditions which could be attributed to alcohol consumption.
And in 2008/09, 562 Croydon men and 265 women were admitted to hospital for conditions specifically related to alcohol, while 2,208 men and 1,445 women were admitted for problems attributable to drink.
5 Comments
by RobinHood, Thieves Wood,Sherwood
Wednesday, September 08 2010, 10:10PM
“I hope Croydon Council lead by example and only serve fruit juices at its regular bun fights”
by Arfur Towcrate, Staffycher
Tuesday, September 07 2010, 10:15PM
“This is just a stealth tax.
Not all pubs in Croydon are run by greedy landlords and companies who rake in profits by letting their customers get drunk.
Those that do should face the consequences - having their licences withdrawn. And the people who can't handle their drink should be arrested and charged for being drunk and disorderly. That would leave responsible landlords and drinkers in the clear.”
by DENNIS, Biffins Bridge Dartmoor
Tuesday, September 07 2010, 1:55PM
“why stop there Archie
Ban ugly women as well from the high st as well.
perhaps not Croydon dress shops would be empty on a saturday afternoon.”
by Me, croydon
Tuesday, September 07 2010, 1:54PM
“How about croydon council licensing committee stop giving licenses. Theirs no need for 5/6 shops selling alcohol in a small area. Even newsagents sell alcohol nowadays, and you cant even move around the shops because of the amount of alcohol there is on the shop floors.”
by Archie, Croydon
Tuesday, September 07 2010, 1:01PM
“absolutely agree, some individuals are not capable to hold anything stronger than coffee. But somehow it feels that only one group been targeted rather than to tackle wider problem. Then what about people dying from wrong diet? What about binge eaters? How many people die from beeing too fat? And how much it cost to us taxpayers??? I would recomend to close for a year all pubs and bars + fast food in Croydon. Lets call it a small experiment.
No drunks and no fatties walking the streets!”