Crime Reduction
Alcohol related crime accounts for nearly three quarters of
crime and disorder across the UK.
To make sure Essex remains a safe place to socialise we’ve
launched a number of initiatives designed to combat disorder and
underage drinking.
We’ve listed just a few of them below.
Behave or Be Banned
BOBB aims to reduce crime and
anti-social behaviour by banning troublemakers from licensed
premises in the county’s towns. Once banned from one club or pub,
the offender will be unable to enter other premises signed up to
the scheme.
On the spot penalties
On the spot penalties are used as a way of
dealing swiftly with disorderly behaviour.
They reflect the penalties given by court but have the benefit
of allowing officers to remain on visible patrol much longer.
Power to close licensed premises
We have the power to close licensed premises for
up to 24 hours where there is imminent crime and nuisance or
excessive noise. The 24-hour closure order can result in a review
of the licence.
A Superintendent may make an application for all licensed
premises in a given area to be closed where future crime and
disorder is anticipated.
Confiscation in public places
This allows local authorities to designate areas
in which it will be an offence for any person to refuse to comply
with the request of a police officer to hand over alcohol and
provide their name and address. Failure to comply can result in
arrest.
Drunk and disorderly behaviour
It is also an offence to permit drunk and
disorderly behaviour on licensed premises, serve a person who is
drunk or purchase alcohol for someone who is drunk.
Confiscation from Young Persons
We can confiscate alcohol from people under the
age of 18 who we see drinking in a public area or we have reason to
suspect would start drinking.
Sales to persons underage
Licensees and their staff have a duty to take all
reasonable steps to establish the age of a customer before selling
them alcohol.
It is not a sufficient defence to say they believed them to be
over 18. They must have some basis for that belief and that
belief would need to convince any reasonable person.
Offenders found to have sold alcohol to a person under the age
of 18 will be dealt with seriously and licensees could face losing
their licence.
Test Purchasing
We work with Trading Standards to test licensees
and their staff in the sale of alcohol to underage customers by
arranging for underage volunteers to enter the premises and attempt
to purchase alcohol.
Previous <