Police fear new drinking and smoking laws have fuelled rise in crime

9:53pm Monday 21st January 2008

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The smoking ban and relaxed licensing laws have led to a rise in violence on the streets.

Sussex Police say drink-fuelled crime is on the rise because pub-goers are being forced outside to smoke.

Extra patrols are already being sent to areas such as New Road, Brighton, where al fresco smoking has led to problems.

Fears about the impact of the smoking ban comes on top of rising public place violent crime sparked by new 24-hour drinking legislation.

Since the legislation came into force two years ago, there has been a six per cent increase in the number of licensed premises in the city, or an extra 100 venues where customers can buy alcohol.

Later closing times have also displaced crime until the early morning which has has had "significant implications" for police resources, the force said.

In the 12 months to April 2007 £200,000 was spent on overtime, policing the city centre's pubs and clubs at night.

The figure for the year ending April 2008 is likely to be £15,000, with the savings attributed to less overtime because of fewer events such as the World Cup.

Police warn that with growing pressure on the budget, overtime spending must be reduced and other means of controlling alcohol-related violence found.

The information has emerged in a Sussex Police report arguing for the introduction of tougher measures to restrict new pubs and clubs opening in Brighton and Hove.

Police are pushing for the introduction of one of the country's largest "cumulative impact zones" to stop new premises opening in areas already considered to be saturated with bars.

Sgt Malcolm Wauchope, the author of the report who works in the Brighton and Hove licensing department, argues the zone, which will cover swaths of the city centre, will not stifle trade but ensure new venues in the city centre prove they will not add to crime.

The report reads: "Many of these premises are large, vertical drinking establishments, and coupled with the location, size and crime figures comes the fact that the pressure is only likely to intensify on other services such as taxis and fast food shops as further development takes place."

Developments within the proposed area include the recently opened Oceana nightclub in West Street, with a capacity of 2,500, and the Hippodrome, Middle Street, which will also have a capacity of approximately 2,500 when completed.

Violent crime in the city centre increased by five per cent in 2006, the first full year of the new licensing laws, compared with 2005.

Despite seasonal variations and the impact of events such as the World Cup, police predict street violence will to continue to rise, although serious assaults have fallen since the introduction of the new licensing regime.

The report reads: "The trend for public place violent crime has been upward since the implementation of the Licensing Act 2003 in November 2005 and is expected to continue its upward trend, with a contributory factor being the introduction of the smoking ban in July 2007."

Police have said the increase is partly explained by the growing number of £80 fines handed out to binge drinkers early in the evening which often prevent more serious crimes being committed in the early hours.

Police also argue that despite rising figures, the new licensing regime has given them powers to deal swiftly with problem premises.

With the arrival of warmer weather, police are concerned the smoking ban will also spark violent crime.

Sgt Wauchope wrote: "With a number of customers from licensed premises on the street at any one time then the potential for crime increases along with the possibility of complaints from residents affected by noise and nuisance.

"There are currently no figures to say that the smoking legislation has had an effect due to the ban only having come into place in July 2007 but it is anticipated that there will be an increase in reported incidents as a result of the smoking ban within licensed premises, especially those city centre venues with no outside areas or beer gardens."

Insp Bill Whitehead, head of licensing for Brighton and Hove, added: "Disorder hotspots from smoking tend to come and go very quickly and are usually resolved by a few words of advice.

"We do, however, wait to see what good weather brings."

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