Overhaul of Licensing Act
to give local communities more power to tackle crime
Proposals for
tough new measures to crack down on problem premises and more
powers for local communities to influence licensing decisions were
unveiled by the Government today.
Ahead of a major speech on anti-social behaviour Home Secretary
Theresa May outlined a range of options to overhaul the Licensing
Act. Measures for consultation include:
• making it easier for communities to have their say on local
licensing by allowing local authorities to consider the views of
the wider community, not just those living close to premises;
• taking tough action against underage drinking by doubling the
fine to £20,000 for those found persistently selling alcohol to
children, extending orders that see premises closed on a voluntary
basis to a minimum of seven days and bringing in automatic licence
reviews for these problem premises – which can see licences revoked;
• charging a fee for late-night licences to pay for the cost of
extra policing and scrapping ineffective, bureaucratic and
unpopular Alcohol Disorder Zones;
• ensuring policing and health concerns are fully considered so
that the impact of licensing on crime and disorder or public
health can be fully taken into account when assessing licence applications;
• increasing licence fees so that local councils can cover costs
linked to enforcement leaving premises to pay rather than the
local taxpayer;
• tightening up rules for temporary licences by limiting the
number of Temporary Event Notices that can be applied for in any
one year - these are often used to get around the restrictions of
applying for a permanent licence; and
• introducing a ban the sale of below cost alcohol and
consulting on how this can be achieved.
Home Secretary Theresa May said:
"The benefits promised by the 24 hour drinking ‘café
culture’ have failed to materialise and in its place we have seen
an increase in the number of alcohol related incidents and
drink-fuelled crime and disorder.
"We know that the majority of pubs and bars are well run
business but the Government believes that the system needs to be
rebalanced in favour of the local communities they serve with
tougher action taken to crack down on the small number of premises
who cause problems."
Last year there were almost one million violent crimes that were
alcohol related, with a fifth of all violent incidents taking
place in or around a pub or club, and almost two-thirds of these
happen at night. As well as this the total cost of alcohol-related
crime and disorder to the taxpayer is estimated to be between £8bn
and £13bn.
NOTES TO EDITORS
1. The Government’s public consultation will run for six weeks
and seeks a views on a range of proposals to tackle alcohol
related crime and disorder. The consultation paper Rebalancing the
Licensing Act – a consultation on empowering individuals, families
and local communities to shape and determine local licensing will
be available from midday 28 July at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/consultations/
2. The Government’s coalition programme includes the
following commitments:
• we will ban the sale of alcohol below cost price;
• we will review alcohol taxation and pricing to ensure it
tackles binge drinking without unfairly penalising responsible
drinkers, pubs and important local industries;
• we will overhaul the Licensing Act to give local authorities
and the police much stronger powers to remove licences from, or
refuse to grant licences to, any premises that are causing problems;
• we will allow councils and the police to shut down permanently
any shop or bar found persistently selling alcohol to children;
• we will double the maximum fine for under-age alcohol sales to
£20,000; and
• we will permit local councils to charge more for late-night
licences to pay for additional policing.
More details can be found at: www.programmeforgovernment.hmg.gov.uk
3. For more details please call the Home Office newsdesk on 020
7035 3535.
Contacts:
Home Office Press Office
Phone: 020 7035 3535
NDS.HO@coi.gsi.gov.uk