Home Office names 33 regions for phase two of Local Alcohol Action Areas programme
The Home Office has unveiled a second phase of the local alcohol action areas (LAAA) programme, with 33 new regions coming on board.
The LAAA programme was launched three years ago and initially covered 20 areas.
The areas involved in phase two of the programme will be supported by the Government to implement a plan which will see local agencies including licensing authorities, health bodies, and police coming together with businesses to address problems caused by alcohol in their local area.
Sarah Newton, Minister for Vulnerability, Safeguarding and Countering Extremism, said: “Local alcohol action areas demonstrate the government’s commitment to work with industry, police, local authorities and other partners to make our streets safer.
“Violent crimes involving alcohol have fallen over the last decade - but it is clear that alcohol misuse has a significant impact on communities across the country.
“Our pubs, bars and restaurants make a valuable contribution to our economy and our society and it is important that people are able to enjoy them without the fear of becoming a victim of crime.”
The Government said the 33 new areas would receive support and expertise in crime prevention, licensing and public health from the Home Office, Public Health England, the Welsh government and Nightworks, a company that specialises in diversifying the night-time economy.
The 33 local alcohol action areas are:
- Barnsley
- Bedfordshire
- Camden
- Colchester
- Cornwall
- Derbyshire
- Doncaster
- Exeter
- Fareham
- Hastings
- Havering
- Hull
- Isle of Wight
- Islington
- Merton
- Northumberland
- Norwich
- Nottinghamshire
- Peterborough
- Shropshire
- Southwark
- Surrey
- Swansea
- Swindon
- Wakefield
- Wandsworth
- Westminster
- Weston-super-Mare
- Weymouth
- Wirral
- Wisbech
- Wolverhampton
- Wrexham
A range of interventions were introduced in the first LAAA phase. These included:
- club hosts patrolling bars to offer help to those who are vulnerable
- mandatory safeguarding training for taxi drivers
- increased trading standards activity on underage sales of alcohol
- a triage service for street drinkers, and
- a non-alcoholic bar for teenagers.
Phase two of the programme will run for two years.