Pub-police partnerships push alcohol-related crime down

According to a survey by the Portman Group, 31 per cent of the public believe the decline in alcohol-related violence is due to more effective partnerships between police, local authorities and businesses.

Another 40 per cent cited better town centre management and 38 per cent named a society less tolerant of anti-social behaviour as reasons for the drop.

Henry Ashworth, Portman Group chief executive, said: “This research confirms what those on the front line in combating alcohol harms have believed for years – that local partnerships are key to tackling crime and anti-social behaviour.

“A steady decline in binge-drinking in the last decade, alongside society becoming less tolerant of anti-social behaviour, better town centre management and partnership working between police, councils and licensed premises is creating safer and more vibrant town centres which is great news for local economies.⁵​

“It is in all our interests to continue to invest in partnerships and support these positive cultural shifts.”

Local partnerships​

Public respondents to the survey named police as the main contributor to those local partnerships (57 per cent), followed by bars, pubs and restaurants (45 per cent) and local authorities (36 per cent).

Among the police officers who took part in the survey, 77 per cent said the police contributed to the partnerships, followed by local authorities (53 per cent) and licensed premises (51 per cent).

Better town centre management came out first among police officers in reasons for the decline in anti-social behaviour (42 per cent), followed by police, local authorities, communities and businesses working together more effectively (41 per cent)  and society becoming less tolerant to anti-social behavior (34 per cent).

Additionally, 64 per cent of officers felt like effective partnerships between police, local authorities and licensed premises had increased over the last ten years. 

Steady decline​

Violent crime linked to alcohol has fallen by 32 per cent since 2004, and almost halved (down 47 per cent) since 1995, according to the Crime Survey for England and Wales by the Office of National Statistics (ONS).

Department of Transport data also showed that alcohol-related road traffic accidents have fallen by 44 per cent, fatal accidents by 53 per cent and roadside breath test failures by 19 per cent since 2000.

Regional differences​

Alcohol-related crime has declined by 21 per cent in England, but there are differences between regions: the steepest decline was in the north east (33 per cent), Yorkshire and the Humber (29 per cent) and East Midlands (28 per cent).

According to the police officers surveyed, lower standards of living (60 per cent), weaker local economy and limited employment opportunities (57 per cent), a lack of education about the risks of alcohol abuse (39 per cent) and lack of an effective partnership between police, local authorities, communities and businesses (26 per cent)in certain areas of the country, are al contributing to the regional divide.

Infographic: The drop in alcohol-related crime​