Government to pilot 'sobriety orders' that test alcohol levels of offenders

The government is to pilot a new ‘Sobriety Order’ to tackle violent and disruptive drinkers.

Under the proposed powers – tabled as amendments to the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill – criminals found guilty of committing crimes fuelled by drink could face jail if they fail sobriety tests.

The amendments would mean offenders' alcohol levels could be monitored either by alcohol tags that test sobriety every half hour, or by compelling offenders to attend a police station to be breathalysed daily.

The tests are to be piloted as requirements for conditional cautions, community orders and suspended sentences imposed by courts on offenders who have committed alcohol-related crimes. The locations for the pilots has yet to be announced.

The Ministry of Justice added that the conditional caution scheme would focus on lower level offences such as drunk and disorderly, criminal damage and public disorder affray, while community sentences and suspended sentence would focus on more serious offences such as common assault and grievous bodily harm.

The new powers have been developed in conjunction with the Deputy Mayor of London, Kit Malthouse. They have also been backed by the Met Commissioner.

Policing and Criminal Justice Minister Nick Herbert said: “Alcohol fuelled violence and criminality causes mayhem in our towns and city centres. These new sobriety orders will allow us to tackle this problem more effectively and demand that binge drinkers who commit crime sober up.”