"Booze ASBOs" call time on problem drinkers

Tough new powers to crack down on people responsible for alcohol-fuelled crime and antisocial behaviour have come into force, Home Office Minister Alan Campbell announced yesterday.

From today police and local authorities will be able to apply for Drinking Banning Orders (DBO) on individuals aged 16 and upwards who regularly commit crime or anti-social behaviour while under the influence of the alcohol.

Magistrates will be able to impose any condition they think is necessary under the "booze ASBOs" to protect the public from that individual committing further offences. This could include banning from consuming alcohol in public places, including certain pubs, bars and off licences and restricting them from entering certain areas.

The orders can last from between two months and two years and anyone who breaches a DBO is liable for a fine of up to £2,500. Offenders who are subject to an order can be referred a Positive Behaviour Intervention Course to address their alcohol misuse. Successful completion of the course may lead to a reduction in the length of the order.

Home Office Minister Alan Campbell said:

"Tackling crime and disorder linked to alcohol is one of our top priorities and we have made real progress but with the cost to the UK totalling billions of pounds a year we know there is still more to be done.

"These orders will stop those people who are well known to the authorities, licencees and often the communities where they live, from ruining lives and will make them face up to their destructive behaviour.

"If irresponsible drinkers do not accept support, these orders will ensure that they face some very real consequences." Jeremy Beadles, Chief Executive of the Wine and Spirit Trade Association, said:

"We welcome steps to crackdown on those who commit crime or are involved in anti-social behaviour after misusing alcohol. Tough enforcement against offenders is critical if we are to change the culture around problem drinking.

"We support Government steps to encourage police, local authorities and magistrates to use the powers at their disposal to combat the behaviour of a troublesome minority."

Don Shenker, Alcohol Concern Chief Executive, said:

"Used as part of a package of measures to reduce alcohol harms these initiatives can make a real difference to safety on our streets.

"Policing of alcohol-related crime must go hand in hand with more robust measures to curb irresponsible and illegal sales and improved treatment pathways for dependent drinkers.

"We welcome the idea of positive behaviour courses to educate people about alcohol harm – these courses should be available for everyone who has been given a Drinking Banning Order. "

DBO Positive Behaviour Intervention Courses will be available across the country and will be run by a list of approved providers. The Government is not supporting these courses financially and participants will be expected to pay a fee for attending the courses, between £120 and £250, to cover the costs.

NEW PLEDGE TO SUPPORT YOUNG VICTIMS OF CRIME IN LEWISHAM

A pioneering Government programme which supports young victims of crime in Lewisham, as well as helping them to keep themselves safe, will be rolled-out nationwide, Justice Minister Bridget Prentice announced today.

Around 13,000 young people at risk of becoming a victim of crime including anti-social behaviour, knife or gang related crime have already been reached through the work of five innovative pilots. These pilots also enable young victims to deal with the impact of a crime and move on with their lives. From today the Government is pledging a further half a million pounds to helping new projects learn from their success.

Working hand in hand with local communities, police, schools and voluntary groups, these pilots have identified the needs of their local young people and put in place a range of services, advice and tailor-made support.

Whilst visiting one of the successful pilots in Lewisham, Bridget Prentice said:

“Young people are more likely to experience crime than adults, and are also the least likely to report what has happened. This can often result in them not knowing where to go to access help.

“That is why programmes like this are so important. These pilots have already had great success, in less than one year, and demonstrate just what can be achieved when local communities, supported by Government and the police, pull together to tackle the issues they face.

“Lewisham, the project I am visiting today, is a model example of how we can help keep our young people safe, help those who have been a victim of crime re-build their lives and support them so they don’t turn to crime in response to being a victim.

“Now I want to encourage more communities across England and Wales to establish their own projects – using the success of these five pilots as an important guide.”

Part of the Youth Crime Action Plan, this programme encourages the police, local authority and voluntary sector to make a public pledge setting out what support will be provided to the young people within their communities by offering services ranging from workshops, drop-in sessions, school assemblies, music, sport and youth clubs to outdoor activity breaks and one-to-one support.

Chief Inspector Graham Price, Chair of the Lewisham Youth Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC) Board said:

“Young people are less likely to come forward and report crimes and therefore less able to access the existing wide network of support that is available. We’re determined to support young people if they do become victims of crime and our pledge to the young people of Lewisham sets out what they can expect.”

The Government’s Youth Task Force will now use the funding announced today to help other areas across England and Wales replicate the success of the five pilots.

Lewisham built on its existing provision for young victims of crime and established a Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC) for young victims of the most serious crimes.

Lewisham is one of the Youth Crime Action Plan priority areas who have received funding to develop a comprehensive package of measures to prevent and tackle youth crime through the triple-track approach of tough enforcement, non-negotiable support and prevention.

YWCA LAUNCHES BINGE DRINKING CONFERENCE

In a bid to tackle the reasons for binge drinking amongst teenagers, YWCA is holding a unique conference this autumn. They plan not only to invite professionals involved in the issue but also young women to explore solutions to the problem.

The charity, which works with disadvantaged young women across England and Wales , is concerned that teenagers who drink excessively are being exposed to risky situations. These may lead to unwanted pregnancies, anti-social behaviour, injury, assault and death.

“We believe that no one person or organisation has the solution and so we hope that by bringing together so many interested parties, including concerned members of the public, we will be able to provide effective solutions.” says Sarah Payne, Chief Executive YWCA.

“We have been planning this conference for some time now. But the recent tragic deaths in Newquay have made us all realise the urgency of the problem. Young people will always want to experiment with alcohol but what we need to do is to find a safe way for them to do so. They also need to know that drinking to excess is not necessary for having a good time.”

A unique feature of the conference will be that about 10 per cent of the audience will be young women. They will be there to voice their opinions and experiences. YWCA is also currently carrying out research into why young women binge drink and how well they understand the risks .The results of this never carried out before research will be presented at the conference.

Speakers include representatives from the Police, the alcohol and retail industry, the NUS and the Prison Service. Representatives from over 400 organisations associated with the problem have been invited to attend as delegates.

“We hope that by bringing together so many interested parties, including young women, we will be able to explore all angles of the problem and be think through some effective solutions which will then be taken forward to Ministers.” says Sarah Payne.

The conference will be held at Central Hall, Westminster , London on Wednesday 21^st October 2009. Booking a place and further information can be obtained at www.ywca.org.uk.