Home Office calls for random and targeted visits to licensed premises during World Cup
The Home Office has issued guidance for police forces over alcohol and licensing issues during the World Cup, strongly advising them to undertake – through neighbourhood police teams, for example – random and targeted visits to licensed premises.
The guidance, Alcohol and Licensing During the World Cup 2010, calls for a proactive approach to be adopted in relation to problematic alcohol-related premises.
It suggests prioritising an intelligence-led list of such premises, with consideration given to co-ordinating visits with partner agencies such as local authority licensing enforcement officers, fire and safety rescue officers, trading standards, health and safety planning officers, HM Revenue & Customs and local Drug and Alcohol Action Teams. “Use of the Cardiff ‘traffic light’ model may be helpful in planning this approach,” it adds.
The guidance also says police forces may wish to demand that premises complete a comprehensive risk assessment, and should consider options such as closure notices.
Other areas covered by the guidance include the use of CCTV, safer glassware, temporary event notices, extensions to the licensed area, and test purchase operations with trading standards officers.
The Home Office said: “Partnership working between agencies and the licensed trade is the key to managing this period of time and the experience of all alcohol/licensing partners should be included in any work undertaken.
“The key issue for any local area is to ensure that premises showing World Cup games do so in a safe and responsible way whilst not adversely impacting on the enjoyment of their customers and the wider public.”
The guidance also highlights the following key powers:
- Directions to leave under s. 27(2) of the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006
- Designated public place orders under s.13 of the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 (amended by s. 155 of the Licensing Act 2003)
- Right of entry to licensed premises under s. 179 of the Licensing Act 2003
- Unauthorised sales closure notices under s. 19 of the Criminal Justice & Police Act 2001
- Unauthorised sales closure orders under s. 20 of the Criminal Justice & Police Act 2001
- Area closure orders, for areas experiencing or anticipating disorder, under s. 160 of the Licensing Act 2003
- Emergency closure orders under s. 161 of the Licensing Act 2003
- Expedited reviews under s. 53A of the Licensing Act 2003
- Mandatory licensing conditions orders – under the mandatory code – in relation to irresponsible promotions, and
- Police closure orders for noise nuisance under s. 161 of the Licensing Act 2003.
