The Home Office has launched a new phase of the programme
to tackle alcohol-related crime and health harms and
create a more diverse night-time economy. The programme
initially launched in February 2014 covering 20 areas.
Each area will be supported by the government to
implement their plan which will see local agencies
including licensing authorities, health bodies, and
police coming together with businesses to address
problems caused by alcohol in their local area.
, Minister for
Vulnerability, Safeguarding and Countering Extremism,
said:
Local alcohol action areas demonstrate the government’s
commitment to work with industry, police, local
authorities and other partners to make our streets
safer.
Violent crimes involving alcohol have fallen over the
last decade - but it is clear that alcohol misuse has a
significant impact on communities across the country.
Our pubs, bars and restaurants make a valuable
contribution to our economy and our society and it is
important that people are able to enjoy them without
the fear of becoming a victim of crime.
Alcohol-related crime and disorder costs an estimated £11
billion per year in England and Wales, and the government
wants to support local communities in reducing the scenes
of drunkenness and violence that blight communities,
particularly at night.
The first phase of LAAA saw a
variety of interventions introduced to reduce street
drinking, vulnerability and violence. These ranged from
club hosts patrolling bars to offer help to those who are
vulnerable, to mandatory safeguarding training for taxi
drivers, increased trading standards activity on underage
sales of alcohol, to a triage service for street
drinkers, and even a non-alcoholic bar for teenagers.
The 33 new areas will be supported in developing and
implementing their plans by specialist support managers.
They will receive support and expertise in crime
prevention, licensing and public health from the Home
Office, Public Health England, the Welsh government and
Nightworks, a company that specialises in diversifying
the night-time economy.
Sarah Hanratty, Interim Chief Executive for the Portman
Group said:
We warmly welcome the second round of
the LAAAs; and the
opportunity to support local communities in reducing
alcohol-related harm and creating safe and thriving
night time economies.
Drinks producers and retailers have an important role
to play and are committed to reducing the harms related
to alcohol misuse through their support of the local
alcohol partnership schemes; a range of initiatives
that work to make local communities safer and create
great places for people to live, work and socialise.
The programme will run for 2 years and LAAA areas will
also be put in touch with mentors who have successfully
tackled the issues that they face and will come together
to problem solve and share best practice.
The 33 local alcohol action areas are:
- Barnsley
- Bedfordshire
- Camden
- Colchester
- Cornwall
- Derbyshire
- Doncaster
- Exeter
- Fareham
- Hastings
- Havering
- Hull
- Isle of Wight
- Islington
- Merton
- Northumberland
- Norwich
- Nottinghamshire
- Peterborough
- Shropshire
- Southwark
- Surrey
- Swansea
- Swindon
- Wakefield
- Wandsworth
- Westminster
- Weston-super-Mare
- Weymouth
- Wirral
- Wisbech
- Wolverhampton
- Wrexham
