Kent Police Taking Action Together seminar hailed success
29-Mar-2008
BII chief executive John McNamara took the stage at a groundbreaking seminar held in
Around 200 delegates from local pubs, restaurants, nightclubs, off-licences, supermarkets and local councillors attended the ‘Taking Action Together’ conference, which encouraged licensees to work collectively with Safer Medway Partnership, Kent Police in Medway and Medway Council to reduce alcohol-fuelled disorder.
Throughout the day attendees were regularly polled on their views regarding hot industry issues such as factors most affecting licensed premises, irresponsible drinking and how enforcement agencies should be working with licensees.
The results showed licensees believed that anti-social behaviour outside their premises, underage drinking and binge drinking most affected them. While there was a general feeling social values and culture, and parents and guardians were responsible for excessive night-time drinking.
Chief Inspector Des Keers, who co-ordinated the event, said: ‘The seminar, which was the first of its kind nationally, has been a resounding success and has laid the groundwork for a strong and positive working relationship between licensees, the Safer Medway Partnership, police and local authorities.
‘A number of key factors came out from the day’s discussions, which we will be looking at. These included the importance of using best practice from police forces in
‘The seminar also raised the growing issues of ‘pre-fuelling’, where people drink heavily at home before going out at night and the availability of cheap alcohol from superstores, 24-hour garages and off-licences.
‘In the last year, police and the Safer Medway Partnership have already slashed violent crime by a quarter. Now, it’s time we all worked together to help make Medway an even safer place to go out in.’
Speakers at the seminar also included Stuart Roberts of Safer Medway Partnership, Shepherd Neame chief executive Jonathan Neame,
Delegates also heard from Inspector Peter Raggers of Rotterdam Police, who provided an insight into his team’s successful work with city licensees in stamping out alcohol-related crime.
The seminar was organised as part of the Government’s National Alcohol Strategy. Kent Police in Medway received Home Office funding in autumn 2007 to pioneer ways to combat alcohol-related crime.
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| Contact | Michelle Luscombe Corporate Communications Manager 01276 417863 |
