David Blunkett has delivered an update on an eight week assault on drink related disorder in 77 problem areas in England and Wales.
Half way through the campaign, police have carried out sting operations against more than 600 licensed premises, targeting nearly 2,000 troublemakers with fixed penalty notices and confiscating alcohol from more than 4,000 adults and juveniles.
Government Response: Home Office
David Blunkett, the home secretary, said:"Today's figures show that this co-ordinated police blitz up and down the country is already delivering real results in tackling underage and binge drinking and alcohol-fuelled disorder.
"These results are a credit to the police forces and their partners - this extra effort over the summer, on top of existing work, has made a real difference.
"We have made a big impact on overall crime and the chance of being a victim is at its lowest level for more than 20 years. But we need to do more to tackle the alcohol-related violence and disorder which blights too many of our communities.
"We are no longer prepared to tolerate our towns and city centres becoming no-go areas on Friday and Saturday nights.
"We are determined to tackle the problem head-on with tough enforcement action and work with the alcohol industry to tackle irresponsible selling.
"This summer blitz will continue until the end of the August bank holiday weekend when this first phase will be concluded.
"Lessons learnt will allow us to move to phase two, with the integration of this strategy moulded into our drive against anti-social behaviour and disorder on our streets, making our communities safer places to live and work."
Stakeholder Response: Alcohol Concern
Richard Phillips, acting chief executive of Alcohol Concern said: "The figures released today show the scale of the problem of alcohol sales to children, underlines how little has been done in recent years to enforce the law and highlights the need for ongoing enforcement to stop alcohol sales to children.
"According to the government's own figures, drinkers under the age of 16 are drinking twice as much as they did ten years ago, with one in five 13 year olds, and nearly half of 15 year olds drinking in the last week.
"The early results of this crackdown throw into stark relief the terrible contribution of the alcohol industry to the nation's alcohol problem. Many pubs and off licenses are putting profits above their local communities and the well-being of children.
"We now know that this is not a handful of rogue operators, but widespread through our communities.
"Young people buying alcohol are likely to be drinking with other young people and unsupervised by adults, they are often getting into fights, cause trouble in communities and generally make life unpleasant for the rest of us.
"Furthermore, young people often drink in dangerous situations such as along canals and by railways. They have also not yet learnt to limit their drinking and are at risk of overdose.
"Strong enforcement of the law is the only deterrent for irresponsible traders, and we know it works. We look forward to seeing how many of the sting operations result in prosecutions.
"If the police back off after the summer, the problem will continue and the clamp down will have been of limited benefit."
Stakeholder Response: British National Temperance League
Barabra Biggs, CEO of BNTL said: "BNTL welcomes this initiative to tackle the ‘immediate’ problem of under-age drinking and alcohol-fuelled disorder.
"The results indicate that so far we have only touched the tip of the iceberg and much more needs to be done.
"Mr Blunkett talks of phase two, BNTL hope that in phase two he and his department will take another look at the proposals in the new licensing laws.
"With especial regard to the 24hour opening of licensed premises and the moving of the granting of new licenses to the local Council away from the Magistrates and Police.
"This move has resulted in a saturation of new licensed premises in our city centres for it would appear that the lure of ‘profit’ is greater than consideration for the majority of the general public."
Stakeholder Response: Association of Chief Police Officers
Stephen Green, the chief constable of Nottinghamshire police, said: "Senior officers would robustly enforce the licensing laws. The most disturbing aspect of these figure is the level of premises selling alcohol to under-age people.
"The police service is determined to bring the full weight of the law down on licensees who act in such an irresponsible manner."
