PRESS RELEASE
Issued by:
Councillor Jean Quinn
Date of Issue: 24 November 2005
Contact phone number:
0151 625 9547

ALCOHOL-FUELLED VIOLENCE RISES BY 20%

On the day that the new Licensing Act comes into force, a Wirral Councillor has warned that new research released by the Liberal Democrats shows that alcohol-fuelled violence is up by one-fifth in the past two years.

Councillor Jean Quinn , who represents Greasby,Frankby, Irby ward says,

“This is very worrying, particularly on top of recent statistics showing alcohol-related deaths increases of 24% in the North-West and 18% in Merseyside.”

Councillor Quinn last month succeeded in gaining all-party support for a motion calling on the Government to amend the Licensing Act to prevent further rises in alcohol-related harm and crime and disorder.

Analysis by Don Foster MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Culture, Media and Sport Secretary of ‘violent offences committed in connection with licensed premises' in 28 of the country's 43 police force areas reveals that the past two years have seen:

  • A 20.3% national increase (to nearly 50,000 offences a year - 1,000 per week - in just those areas for which figures are available)
  • A rise in 24 areas and a decline in only 4 areas
  • A near trebling in Cleveland (189% up) – which saw the greatest rise
  • A decrease by 44% in South Wales – which saw the greatest decline

Don Foster MP said:

“These figures provide further evidence that binge drinking is out of control.

“International research evidence shows that increasing the availability of alcohol will make matters worse. So it's clear that the new Licensing Act will lead to a further increase in these figures with yet more people becoming the victims of alcohol-fuelled violence.”

“The Government's argument that we should expect more alcohol offences only as a result of the new police powers in the Licensing Act doesn't stack up.

“All the new powers to be introduced by the Act are to tackle rogue pubs, not individuals. If anything, these powers should reduce, not increase, overall alcohol offence rates. These last minute spurious arguments smack of desperation. Ministers should have swallowed their pride and stopped 24-hour drinking before it was too late.”

Read Councillor Quinn's Council motion

Read Don Foster MP's press release and statistics