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Written question asked by Lord Avebury (Liberal Democrat), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Baroness Scotland of Asthal (Labour) on Wednesday, 11 January 2006.

Licensing Act 2003

Question
What information on (a) crimes reported to the police; (b) ambulance call-outs; and (c) patient attendances at accident and emergency departments within the area of the Metropolitan Police they will use to assess the effect of the Licensing Act 2003 on crime and disorder; and whether they will place in the Library of the House copies of the information collected (i) leading up to the date the Act came into force; and (ii) for a period after the Act came into force.
Answer

The Home Office-led evaluation of the impact of the Licensing Act 2003 on levels of crime and disorder will use a range of measures at both a national and local level. These include national crime surveys of victims and offenders supplemented with case studies involving five towns and cities in England. These local case studies, one of which is Croydon which is within the Metropolitan Police force area, will look at patterns of police recorded crime and disorder in relation to licensed premises and extended hours. Recorded crime data have been requested on the following crime types: violence against the person; sexual offences; and disorder and criminal damage. This work will also include, within the case study areas, surveys of local residents and interviews with the responsible authorities which have been designated under the Act as well as with local night-time economy businesses including licensees. Furthermore, the evaluation will also, where possible, draw upon data which details the number of patient attendances at accident and emergency and the number of calls for assistance from the ambulance service for each of the case study areas. The Home Office plans to publish the findings from the evaluation and once it has done so the report will be placed in the Library. In addition, the Home Office is conducting a monitoring exercise, which aims to provide a quicker and more limited assessment of the Act than the evaluation which is detailed above. Police forces have been asked to supply, on a voluntary basis, monthly returns on violent crime and criminal damage broken down by the hour of offences. If the findings are published then the report will be placed in the Library.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
2766; 677 c61-2WA
Session
2005-06
Subjects
Crime Alcoholic drinks Ambulance services Greater London Emergency calls Misuse Licensing laws Statistics Accident and emergency departments
Legislation
Licensing Act 2003
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk