Partnership aims to cut drink problems
POLICE chiefs are to work alongside the health service in a landmark partnership to slash crime and health problems caused by alcohol abuse.
Chief Constable Mike Cunningham, pictured below, will lead the dedicated task group as it draws up a strategy to tackle the soaring cost of crime, disorder and healthcare linked to excessive drinking.
Staffordshire Police is ploughing £100,000 into the county-wide partnership, which is set to be matched in full by the health service.
The move comes as Stoke-on-Trent City Council launches a review into falling trade and rising violent crime in Hanley.
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Members are expected to press for nightclub opening times to be cut in a bid to reduce alcohol-related violence.
Chief Constable Mike Cunningham believes the move brings the police force and health service together in a way "never seen before".
He said: "This is a key priority for public services because it has a huge impact on the services we provide.
"In policing terms, alcohol is a significant contributory factor to violent crime and anti-social behaviour in our towns and city centres at night.
"It contributes to domestic violence and other offences such as rape and serious sexual assault.
"This funding shows our determination to solve the problem.
"The force is committed to tackling the significant problem of alcohol harm across the county."
County councillor Robert Marshall, cabinet member for public health and community safety, said "We shouldn't underestimate the impact alcohol misuse has, not only on the individuals themselves but also on the wellbeing and safety of their families – and the costs of healthcare in the wider community.
"This is a Staffordshire-wide problem that cuts across responsibilities and boundaries, so it's vital that all of us work together to turn the tide of alcohol misuse and the problems it causes in society.
"The cost of alcohol to the Staffordshire economy, both in crime and disorder costs and healthcare costs, is estimated to be millions of pounds each year, and rising.
"Our focus has to be on prevention by tackling the underlying issues much earlier on, so that entrenched drinking patterns don't become the norm."
The task group will report directly to the new Staffordshire Health and Wellbeing Board, set up by the county council as part of national changes to the way health services are scrutinised.
A similar arrangement will be agreed with Stoke-on-Trent City Council's new health board over the coming months.
Comments
by camband
Thursday, September 20 2012, 10:21AM
“With freedom comes responsibility.
Drugs like alcohol, affect a person's sense of responsibility. Therefore, to keep the freedom of choice alive and kicking -the onus is on the 'drug supplier' -the Licensed Publican/Club Owner -to 'keep order' and only supply the alcohol to those he considers capable of being responsible for its effects.
If in carrying out his 'end of the bargain', the Licensee makes a misjudgement, and a person he supplied the drug to -becomes mentally incapacitated by over indulgence, and unable to take any responsibility for his further actions that day/night, his/her inebriated state making them incapable of such responsibility, then the Police are on hand to 'take care' of the person, protect him/her from themselves, and protect the rest of us from any repercussions from the effects of the drug, until he.she 'regains normal functioning' -able to once again -be a responsible member of society, responsible for his/her actions.
That's the bottom line. That's the set-up re 'legal drugs' and 'shared responsibility' for its consumption.
But who pays for the 'police assistance'? Is it the money gleaned from Tax/Duty on the drug? Or, money gleaned from our PAYE Tax and the rest of the complex collection of tax in this country? VAT; Capital Gains etc etc.”
by warren-lloyd
Wednesday, September 19 2012, 9:47AM
“I love the cafe culture that is seen in some of Europe, and I don't drink alcohol, I can be seen in Café's swigging all kinds of coffee and soft drinks to my hearts content safe in he knollage that I'm not going to take it upon myself to smack someone in the mouth and nick there mobile phone. I would be very glad to see a 24 hour coffee house set up, it would save me having to fill the coffee making thing up at home. I got a fab mug from The Range the other week, with a filter in it, I can make bang on proper filter coffee by the mug, how great is that.”
by truestokie
Wednesday, September 19 2012, 8:51AM
“Anon_mow_cop "Late opening hours + cheap drinks = Trouble
Spot on.
An explosion of Health problems, drink fueled violence and disorder was foretold by those in the front line and ignored by our "so called" leaders.
The industry needs regulating especialy in the area of allowing sales of cheap alchohol to nealy every street corner shop, Garage and supermarket.
I have seen Citys abroad (France, Germany, Italy and Spain) and seen the culture of street cafe's, and the problem lies with the English culture of binge drinking, cheap booze, and weak willed people.”
by warren-lloyd
Wednesday, September 19 2012, 7:40AM
“Tony, no mate, its called common sence. The main defence of relaxed opening hours is a promotion of the cafe culture that people think is in other parts of Europe. Word to the wise, its not there, its not seen anywhere other then the holiday resorts of France, Portugal, Spain and Italy. However way you look at it, Stoke on Trent can not be classed as a holiday resort. God bless and help Blackpool, you won't see me I. that dump in a million years.”
by Redtone
Tuesday, September 18 2012, 10:24PM
“A bit draconian Warren. Anything else you'd like to tell adults to do?”
by warren-lloyd
Tuesday, September 18 2012, 9:07PM
“2am knock off for night clubs, Midnight for Pubs and bars (they can close before if they so wish) 10.30pm stop of ALL off sales, this means all, your corner shop, news and ale, Tesco, ruddy petrel stations, the lot, that city wide, With a start up time of 10am, seven days a week, plenty.”
by Anon_mow_cop
Tuesday, September 18 2012, 7:39PM
“@fissionchips
Well said, yes, I am expecting a reply by johntoe to your post about + cannabis, he will rise to it like a trout to the fly I am sure :-)”
by Redtone
Tuesday, September 18 2012, 2:13PM
“Keep wasting Council Tax payers money trying to close nightclubs down. I don't mean the everyday bobbies us mere mortals deal with, but there are some proper tools directing policing policy in Staffordshire at present.”
by fissionchips
Tuesday, September 18 2012, 2:04PM
“@Anon
Einstein would have no quibbles with that equation but it could however be subjected to a little empirical development:
Late opening hours + cheap drinks + cannabis = Even more Trouble
Don't let the cannabis guru see it though.”
by BucknallMel
Tuesday, September 18 2012, 1:34PM
“Too right, Anon. Plus a stupidly large number of people in this country are paid extra benefits because they are registered alcoholics, thus making alcohol abuse a valid career option for some - a problem which it seems the Coalition's wonderful benefit system overhaul is NOT tackling, being content to just take their support from people who are genuinely ill. I am all in favour of helping alcoholics, and I think the best way is to use the cash for residential drying out programmes to get them off the booze and sort out whatever started them on it, not to pay them to drink round the clock till it kills them.”