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Small town bars 'like Wild West' Small town bars 'like Wild West'
(40 minutes later)
Some small market towns are "like the Wild West" in the early hours of the morning because of new licensing laws, a police officers' leader has said.Some small market towns are "like the Wild West" in the early hours of the morning because of new licensing laws, a police officers' leader has said.
The culture committee was told 24 hour drinking laws had probably not led to an overall increase in violent crime.The culture committee was told 24 hour drinking laws had probably not led to an overall increase in violent crime.
But Simon Reed, vice-chairman of the Police Federation, said one impact of later closing times was to push drink-fuelled violence later into the night.But Simon Reed, vice-chairman of the Police Federation, said one impact of later closing times was to push drink-fuelled violence later into the night.
And this meant police resources in small towns had been "stretched".And this meant police resources in small towns had been "stretched".
He told the committee: "At times, policing is being really stretched, often in the smaller towns more than in the bigger cities.He told the committee: "At times, policing is being really stretched, often in the smaller towns more than in the bigger cities.
"My impression of many market towns is they are really like the Wild West on occasion because they are really stripped of resources.""My impression of many market towns is they are really like the Wild West on occasion because they are really stripped of resources."
He said police were now having to deal with two closing times rather than one.He said police were now having to deal with two closing times rather than one.
'Pre-loading''Pre-loading'
"All it's done is push closing time further back. We have got closing times at a number of premises which shut at the previous time of 11 or 11.30 and again the same people for 2 o'clock who are leaving other premises," he said."All it's done is push closing time further back. We have got closing times at a number of premises which shut at the previous time of 11 or 11.30 and again the same people for 2 o'clock who are leaving other premises," he said.
We have all, collectively, got to grow up a little bit in this country, otherwise we are not going to get the cafe culture which I sincerely hope we can try to develop Chris White We have all, collectively, got to grow up a little bit in this country, otherwise we are not going to get the cafe culture which I sincerely hope we can try to develop Chris White class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/7670006.stm">Lap dancing clubs 'no trouble'
"All that's happened is we now have two dispersal times and one that goes on until five in the morning.""All that's happened is we now have two dispersal times and one that goes on until five in the morning."
This meant fewer police officers working during the day time, he told the committee.This meant fewer police officers working during the day time, he told the committee.
Town hall leaders told the committee that many revellers were drinking heavily before going out by "pre-loading" in supermarkets and off-licenses.Town hall leaders told the committee that many revellers were drinking heavily before going out by "pre-loading" in supermarkets and off-licenses.
They also said there was some way to go before Britain adopted a continental-style cafe culture, one of the original aims of the 2003 Licensing Act.They also said there was some way to go before Britain adopted a continental-style cafe culture, one of the original aims of the 2003 Licensing Act.
Chris White, chairman of the Local Government Association Culture Sport and Tourism Board, said "we need to develop a better attitude to alcohol in our society".Chris White, chairman of the Local Government Association Culture Sport and Tourism Board, said "we need to develop a better attitude to alcohol in our society".
He said the country had to get away from the idea that excessive drinking, of the type seen at University freshers' weeks, was a "bit of a laugh".He said the country had to get away from the idea that excessive drinking, of the type seen at University freshers' weeks, was a "bit of a laugh".
"It isn't a bit of a laugh and we have all, collectively, got to grow up a little bit in this country, otherwise we are not going to get the cafe culture which I sincerely hope we can try to develop," he told the committee."It isn't a bit of a laugh and we have all, collectively, got to grow up a little bit in this country, otherwise we are not going to get the cafe culture which I sincerely hope we can try to develop," he told the committee.
Lap-dancing clubs Broader look
The committee is investigating the operation of the 2003 Licensing Act, which allowed later opening and handed control of licensing from magistrates to local authorities.The committee is investigating the operation of the 2003 Licensing Act, which allowed later opening and handed control of licensing from magistrates to local authorities.
The town hall leaders told the MPs the system was working well, but the public sometimes had unrealistic expectations about the ability of councils to block pubs and bars from opening or remove their licences.The town hall leaders told the MPs the system was working well, but the public sometimes had unrealistic expectations about the ability of councils to block pubs and bars from opening or remove their licences.
"There is a perception that councils can do more, when they can not," said Geoffrey Theobold, chair of the local authorities coordinators of regulatory services."There is a perception that councils can do more, when they can not," said Geoffrey Theobold, chair of the local authorities coordinators of regulatory services.
Commander Simon O'Brien, of the Association of Chief Police Officers, added his voice to calls for a change in Britain's drinking culture but he warned it might not be possible through government legislation or police action.Commander Simon O'Brien, of the Association of Chief Police Officers, added his voice to calls for a change in Britain's drinking culture but he warned it might not be possible through government legislation or police action.
"Enforcement is only one part and what I think we need to be doing Our whole view about the consumption of alcohol in this country probably needs a broader look at, and that whole culture change might not come from enforcement but it could come, as we have seen in other areas like smoking, through health and education.""Enforcement is only one part and what I think we need to be doing Our whole view about the consumption of alcohol in this country probably needs a broader look at, and that whole culture change might not come from enforcement but it could come, as we have seen in other areas like smoking, through health and education."
The police officers were also quizzed about the licensing of lap-dancing clubs, which have sprung up in High Streets across Britain since the 2003 Act became law.
The clubs often come under the same licensing rules as pubs, which means that despite the strong objection of local residents to their presence, they can only be prevented from opening on "crime and disorder grounds".
"Often people look for a moral decision, which is sometimes very difficult for police and local authorities to make," said Chief Inspector Adrian Studd, of the Metropolitan Police Vice and Clubs Unit.
He added: "It is true to say there is no evidence they cause any crime and disorder, or very rarely, because they tend to be fairly well-run, they tend to have a fairly high staff ratio to customers, the people who tend to go there tend to be a bit older, so they don't tend to drink so excessively and cause... problems outside."
Some local authorities classify lap dancing clubs as "sex encounter" establishments with strict regulations about what is allowed, but they were also difficult for police to close down as the rules, on what counts as a "G-string" or how close customers can come to the dancers, for example, were very complex, said Chief Inspector Studd.
"With the best will in the world, when you get into the fine detail of it, as we have tried to do, on a couple of occasions, it's incredibly difficult to try and do that," he added.