On-the-spot fines help curb violence

From the Telegraph & Argus, first published Thursday 3rd Mar 2005.

Police handed out 90 on-the-spot fines during a blitz against booze-fuelled violence in Bradford.

Officers in only seven areas outside London issued more £40 fixed penalty notices, including Calderdale with 99.The others were Blackpool (167), Hull (125), Leicester (116), Burnley (110), Leeds (99) and Barrow-in-Furness (99). Nationally, 4,068 fines were imposed.

Ministers revealed for the first time the number of fixed penalty notices dished out to rowdy revellers for alcohol-related offences during a summer crackdown.

West Yorkshire Police launched the eight-week campaign on thuggery in its Bradford South division, which covers the city centre, between July to September.

Inspector Mick Chippindale, licensing inspector for Bradford South, said police in the city had already started the initiative, working closely with licensees, before the national crackdown was launched.

He said: "The crackdown in the summer was part of what we were doing then and what we are continuing to do now, in close co-operation with licensees in the city centre.

"The summer campaign was a huge success and we are delighted that it has been praised at national level.

"The measures we have taken, in partnership with the trade - to tackle alcohol-related offences and make the city centre safer for the general public - have worked very well and we are determined to continue to reduce the levels of violence and disorder stemming from the consumption of alcohol."

Marsha Singh, Labour MP for Bradford South, said: "I'm pleased that this scheme proved to be a success, especially after so many people poured scorn on it.

"There are two main plus points: people will think twice about being drunk and disorderly and police officers can deal with them without needing to take them back to the station. They can stay on the beat."

The Home Office praised the scheme, carried out in 90 areas, which allowed police and trading standards officers to issue on-the-spot fines to drunks.

They were also given the power to close problem pubs and bars for 24 hours as well as targeting those who serve alcohol to underage youths.

Home Office Minister Hazel Blears revealed the figures in a Parliamentary written answer to a question asked by David Davis, the Conservative's home affairs spokesman.

Police chiefs targeted Bradford because it suffered high levels of disorder during the lighter summer nights

Following the campaign's success, the Home Office allowed North Yorkshire Police to repeat the blitz between December 15 and New Year's Day - when festive trouble peaked.

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