Bid to tackle booze crimes

Conference aiming to call time on anti-social activities
By Jonathan McCambridge ~ Belfast Telegraph ~ 07 June 2005

Northern Ireland is today hosting its first ever conference on how to deal with a worrying rise in alcohol related crime.

The Northern Ireland Policing Board is hosting the event in Londonderry to discuss the scourge of excessive drinking among the young whose anti-social actions are turning many of Northern Ireland's town centres into 'no go areas' late at night.

The conference, entitled 'Last Disorder - calling time on alcohol fuelled nuisance' will bring together representatives from District Policing Partnerships, the police, health, local government and the licensed trade to discuss problems associated with the 'night time economy'.

Policing Board Chairman, Professor Sir Desmond Rea, said: "The benefits of Northern Ireland's night time economy cannot be denied. The opening of new bars, clubs and restaurants creates jobs and income, attracts visitors and regenerates declining areas.

"Despite this, aggressive drunken behaviour, vandalism, environmental damage, increased noise and significant pressures on police and emergency services are just some of the problems associated with binge drinking.

"This leads to crime and fear of crime in our towns and cities, which must be addressed."

"Alcohol related crime and disorder is wholly unacceptable. Each year in Northern Ireland, an estimated £34m is incurred in alcohol related costs.

"Unnecessary pressures are being placed on policing and other emergency services and too often those who are there to assist have become the subject of attack."

The line-up of speakers at this conference includes leading experts from the UK and Ireland, such as Paul Evans, Director of the Home Office Police Standards Unit, and Dr Ann Hope, National Alcohol Policy Advisor to the Irish government.

There are also local contributors including the PSNI and the Federation of the Retail Licensed Trade.