News Release

1st February 2005

HOME OFFICE MINISTER CHALLENGED OVER LATE NIGHT BOOZING IN LICHFIELD AND ELSEWHERE

Michael Fabricant challenged Home Office Ministers in the Commons yesterday (31st January) regarding their plans to allow 24 hour drinking. "I used to think that it was wrong to restrict licensing hours. I admit I was wrong." says Michael Fabricant "Police officers in Lichfield have told me that 24 hour licences will mean more work for them dealing with drunken yobs. There are enough problems already in Lichfield and Burntwood on a Friday and Saturday night without all night revellers causing more disturbances."

Michael asked Home Office Minister, Hazel Blears yesterday: "How can the Minister be so sanguine about the prospect of 24-hour drinking? She said the president of the Police Superintendents Association supports it, but she will have heard the comments of Sir John Stevens the former Commissioner of London's Metropolitan Police and the comments of police constables on the beat, who say that it is hard enough tackling one person who is drunk, without hordes and hordes of people being drunk through the night. We heard earlier from her about the problems in large cities. In the City of Lichfield, we have a problem, too.

She replied: "I am sure that there is a problem in Lichfield and other places. It is not confined to the inner cities. Rural market towns and very small areas face similar problems of disorder fuelled by alcohol. I am not complacent at all. I recognise police concerns about the need to deploy officers on the streets, but if the police work with local authorities, with the newly licensed door supervisors at the premises, and with the many public sector people who are on the streets, we can help to get a grip on the problem. We must ensure that the industry itself has a more responsible attitude towards drinking. I am delighted that some of the big chains, including Wetherspoon and Yates's, are outlawing irresponsible promotions. That is an extremely good sign, and I would encourage many more licensees and retailers to do the same