Surrey Police says that it is tackling alcohol fuelled violence and disorderly behaviour this April by working with licensed premises, targeting police patrols in known hotspots and acting against offenders.
Detective Superintendent Jon Savell, Head of Public Protection and Force lead on Violent Crime said: “Statistically April sees a spike in alcohol fuelled violent crimes and disorder that often leads to injury. We know that disorder flares up in areas where there is a concentration of licensed premises and there is a link between this disorder and violence that causes injury. We are therefore focussing on a robust approach to policing these areas and dealing with those people whose drunken actions ruin the enjoyment of others.”
This approach will see Surrey Police’s Licensing Officers working with licensees to minimise disorder by ensuring alcohol is served responsibly and drinkers behave themselves. Police patrols will be concentrating on areas where there is an increased likelihood of drunken behaviour and violence. Those who persist in drinking to excess and injuring others will find officers actively seeking to use the law to ban them from areas and licensed premises to prevent them from returning to offend again.
D/Supt Jon Savell adds: “Those who seek to get drunk, behave in a disorderly way and get involved in fights will be dealt with swiftly. Our intelligence teams will be making sure that officers and staff on the ground and in the CCTV control rooms know exactly who has been arrested and where, so if they are spotted in a location they shouldn’t be they will find themselves back in police custody. The public should be reassured that it is safe to go out and enjoy themselves responsibly and police will be working hard to keep them safe from the small minority who don’t know how to behave themselves.”
Notes
In Surrey on average over the last three Aprils 59pc of violent crime that leads to injury occurs in a public place and just over 40pc is alcohol fuelled. In the county April 2009 to April 2011 showed over a 15pc drop in crimes of violence resulting in injury – although there is a predicted spike in these crimes each April that coincides with Bank Holidays, school holidays, lighter evenings and the usual onset of warmer weather.
