LICENSING chiefs at Warrington have given the green light for tough new measures designed to reduce crime, disorder and public nuisance in the town centre.
The “cumulative impact policy” will be included in the borough council’s licensing policy statement.
It will cover Warrington town centre and also Stockton Heath village centre – both areas were the number and type of pubs, bars and clubs are causing problems of nuisance and disorder.
The effect of adopting a cumulative impact policy (CIP) is to create a presumption that applications for new licences or variations to existing licences would normally be refused unless it can be shown that the operator of the premises involved will not add to the cumulative impact already being experienced.
The council have decided to establish the CIP following a request from Cheshire Police.
A wide ranging public consultation has been carried out over the last three months resulting in 58 responses – all in agreement with establishing the CIP.
Five respondents requested that the CIP area be extended to cover the whole borough, but this is not possible at present because police only applied for the town centre and Stockton Heath areas.
Seven respondents felt the policy should be widened to cover off-licences, supermarkets and late night takeaways and this has been agreed to.
The council, as a licensing authority, has a duty to promote four licensing objectives – public safety, the prevention of crime and disorder, the prevention of nuisance and the protection of children from harm. Police believe the CIP will assist in these aims.
Binge drinking and its impact on policing and the night time economy has become a major concern in Warrington
Binge drinking has increased markedly over recent years with the advent of alco-pops, a marketing focus on young people, cut price alcohol promotions, large vertical drinking establishments and pubs operating into the early hours.
The CIP will cover the areas with the highest levels of drink-related violent crime and disorder where it is believed an increase in the number of licensed premises would impact on the police, ambulance service and council cleansing services.
However, the policy will not be used as grounds for revoking an existing licence or certificate nor prevent all new or varied licence applications.
LICENSING chiefs at Warrington have given the green light for tough new
measures designed to reduce crime, disorder and public nuisance in the
town centre.
Tough new measures to combat crime
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Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
