Strictly embargoed not for publication or broadcast until
00:01 Monday 31 August Tough new powers to crack down on
people responsible for alcohol-fuelled crime and antisocial
behaviour have come into force, Home Office Minister Alan Campbell
announced today.
From today police and local authorities will be able to apply for
Drinking Banning Orders (DBO) on individuals aged 16 and upwards
who regularly commit crime or anti-social behaviour while under
the influence of the alcohol.
Magistrates will be able to impose any condition they think is
necessary under the "booze ASBOs" to protect the
public from that individual committing further offences. This
could include banning from consuming alcohol in public places,
including certain pubs, bars and off licences and restricting them
from entering certain areas.
The orders can last from between two months and two years and
anyone who breaches a DBO is liable for a fine of up to £2,500.
Offenders who are subject to an order can be referred a Positive
Behaviour Intervention Course to address their alcohol misuse.
Successful completion of the course may lead to a reduction in the
length of the order.
Home Office Minister Alan Campbell said:
"Tackling crime and disorder linked to alcohol is one of
our top priorities and we have made real progress but with the
cost to the UK totalling billions of pounds a year we know there
is still more to be done.
"These orders will stop those people who are well known
to the authorities, licencees and often the communities where they
live, from ruining lives and will make them face up to their
destructive behaviour.
"If irresponsible drinkers do not accept support, these
orders will ensure that they face some very real
consequences." Jeremy Beadles, Chief Executive of the
Wine and Spirit Trade Association, said:
"We welcome steps to crackdown on those who commit crime
or are involved in anti-social behaviour after misusing alcohol.
Tough enforcement against offenders is critical if we are to
change the culture around problem drinking.
"We support Government steps to encourage police, local
authorities and magistrates to use the powers at their disposal to
combat the behaviour of a troublesome minority."
Don Shenker, Alcohol Concern Chief Executive, said:
"Used as part of a package of measures to reduce
alcohol harms these initiatives can make a real difference to
safety on our streets.
"Policing of
alcohol-related crime must go hand in hand with more robust
measures to curb irresponsible and illegal sales and improved
treatment pathways for dependent drinkers.
"We
welcome the idea of positive behaviour courses to educate people
about alcohol harm – these courses should be available for
everyone who has been given a Drinking Banning Order.
"
DBO Positive Behaviour Intervention Courses
will be available across the country and will be run by a list of
approved providers. The Government is not supporting these courses
financially and participants will be expected to pay a fee for
attending the courses, between £120 and £250, to cover the costs.
NOTES TO EDITORS
1. DBOs are the latest in a series of
initiatives by the Government to address alcohol-related crime and
disorder that has seen alcohol-related violent crime fall by a
third since 1997. They include:
* launching a £1.4 million summer crackdown on teenage binge
drinking in 69 priority areas to stop and prevent alcohol
influenced anti-social behaviour;
* spending £4.5 million on enforcement campaigns including £3
million to tackle under-age sales and sales to drunks in 198 areas
and a £1.5 million campaign tackling alcohol-related crime and
disorder in 50 priority areas;
* giving the police greater powers to tackle underage drinking
through the Policing & Crime Bill – making it easier to
confiscate alcohol from under-18s, allowing them to issue
directions to leave orders to 10 to 15-year-olds and introduced a
new offence of persistently possessing alcohol in public;
* launching six pilot Youth Alcohol Arrest Referral projects in
Blackpool, East Sussex, Lincolnshire, Liverpool, Newcastle and
Staffordshire/Stoke on Trent. Building on the early success of the
existing 9 schemes for adult these offer brief interventions to
any 10 to 17 year old who comes into contact with the authorities
for alcohol-related reasons; and
* continued our successful Know Your Limits advertising campaign
with another £2.3 million campaign this year designed to drive
home the serious consequences of excessive drinking.
2. For more information about DBOs log onto www.crimereduction.homeoffice.gov.uk/dbo001.htm
or contact the Home Office press office.
173/2009
Contacts:
Home Office Press Office
Phone: 020 7035 3535
NDS.HO@coi.gsi.gov.uk