A public online consultation was been launched this week by the Home Office asking for views on the implementation of two new powers designed to help communities deal with problems associated with late night drinking.

The measures, contained in the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 and due to be introduced in the autumn, will empower local communities by:

• allowing local authorities to charge a levy for late-night licences to contribute to the cost of extra policing
• extending Early Morning Restriction Orders – a power that will allow licensing authorities to restrict the sale of alcohol in all or part of their areas – to any time between midnight and 6am

In Scunthorpe town centre there a various late night venues which attract thousands of revellers every weekend. Since the reform in the Licensing Laws from 2005 that were designed to reduce binge drinking there has been a change to how town centre venues operate in turn resulting in how revellers migrate from on venue to another. Before the change in the law there were only a few light night venues in Scunthorpe which could open until 2am at the latest, this enabled them to charge an admission charge which would mainly result in revellers staying in one venue. However, since the change in the law which saw the relaxation of licensing hours there are now many more venues open until the early hours vying for trade, in some cases up until 5am. This has resulted in many of the nightspots allowing free entry, with a limited few only charging a nominal entry fee after a certain time.

 The consequence of this has seen more revellers migrating from one venue to another, the result being more punters on the streets and leading to interaction, confrontation and in extreme cases, acts of violence and vandalism.

More police officers now patrol the town centre at a weekend than 10 years ago along with Night Safe officer and Street Pastors ensure people have a trouble free time. North Lincolnshire Council controversially invested about £18,000 in 2010 designing and fitting a bespoke gate system which blocks traffic from traveling along Frodingham Road, Oswald Road, Doncaster Road and the High Street for about 200 yards around the Britannia Corner crossroads; this was to help protect revelers from being in an accident with passing vehicles.

The nationwide consultation is maybe seen by some as long overdue, many people begrudge seeing their council tax police precept being spent policing the clubs and bars of the town. Is it time that town centre venues started to contribute to the policing of these areas?

The consultation asks whether some types of premises should be exempted from the new measures, or eligible for a reduction in the levy, if they are judged not to be major contributors to the type alcohol-related crime and disorder that can blight neighbourhoods.  Such premises could be hotels, cinemas or community venues.

The Minister for Crime Prevention and Antisocial Behaviour Reduction Lord Henley has said: ‘Alcohol-related crime and disorder is a problem for many of our communities. These new measures give power back to local areas so they can respond to their individual needs.

‘But we also recognise that some types of premises that open late to serve alcohol do not contribute to late night drinking problems and should not be unduly penalised. That is why we are seeking views on whether they should be exempt or see a reduction in fees.

‘We are keen to hear from anyone who is affected by these new powers to help inform our plans to ensure the premises we have proposed are the right ones.’

The public, licensing authorities, the licensed trade and police are all encouraged to contribute their views.

To view or take part in the Home Office consultation see the following link;