Borough council rules out early morning restriction order "for now"

The licensing committee at Hartlepool Borough Council has ruled out the introduction of an early morning restriction order (EMRO) for now.

The committee held a consultation over a six-week period in February and March on proposals for an EMRO.

However, it has now concluded that there would be too much risk for local businesses if an order forcing them to close early were introduced in 2013.

The ability to introduce EMROs was brought in by the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011.

This amended the Licensing Act 2003 and allows licensing authorities to restrict sales of alcohol in the whole or part of their areas for any specified period between 12 am and 6 am.

The Hartlepool proposal would have required premises to close at 2 am in the town centre area.

The proposal was backed by the Safer Hartlepool Partnership. Cleveland Police acknowledged that overall crime and disorder had reduced significantly in Hartlepool in recent years, but said violent crime in the town centre was still of concern.

The police claimed that the early closing of pubs would reduce the amount of time that people had to drink and get drunk.

However, a number of licensees who were against the proposal also made representations to the committee. They argued that a reduction in opening hours would not reduce crime but have a detrimental impact on those businesses that relied on late night opening.

Hartlepool’s licensing committee concluded that an EMRO could have a role to play in reducing crime and disorder but that, in the current economic climate, the risk to businesses was too great. It therefore decided that the proposed EMRO should not be introduced at this time. The issue will be revisited in 2014.

Cllr Ray Wells, chairman of the committee, said: "Hartlepool Borough Council does not believe that any level of violence or anti social behaviour should be regarded as an acceptable or inevitable consequence of a vibrant night time economy.

"The committee recognised the great work that has been done to reduce crime and disorder in the town centre and believes more still needs to be done. However, it decided that the potential negative impact on local businesses was too great to introduce an EMRO at this moment in time.”

Cllr Wells added: "We are putting trust in the town's licensees to work with the Police and the council to continue the improvements that have been made so far."