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Tackling Crime (Plymouth)

I will certainly bear that point in mind and also talk to my colleague, the Minister for Policing, Crime and Counter-Terrorism. Changing the police formula is very difficult. If we change it in one area, it has a knock-on effect in others. Generally, we expect police forces to make savings in, for example, ICT and the procurement of goods and services. Moreover, we expect them to work together better to procure not just vehicles and equipment but the services that they need. Whatever concerns individual police forces have, it is incumbent on all police authorities and forces to do everything that they can to save money in such difficult times. My hon. Friend raised the idea of the whole community coming together to tackle the problem of alcohol, and I agree with her. Many areas have problems with alcohol and crime and disorder, but, again, it is a matter of public perception. The reality is that alcohol-related crime has fallen in many areas in recent years, but it is still too high, and it can have a huge and damaging effect on local communities. Our aim is to minimise the violent antisocial behaviour and the health harms associated with alcohol, but we also want to ensure that people can enjoy alcohol safely and responsibly. There is an array of powers that partnerships can use, and I urge them to do so. When such powers are used, people's behaviour changes. The Government understand the need to tackle the irresponsible premises that contribute to alcohol-related crime and disorder, which is why we introduced the new mandatory code that comes into force today. The code bans irresponsible promotions such as, "All you can drink for £10", "Women drink free" deals and speed-drinking competitions. Moreover, we are committed to improving the management of the night-time economy, and we have invested in a major programme of training for front-line practitioners to ensure that existing powers are being used effectively. We have also invested in regular enforcement campaigns—such as the £1.5 million partnership support programme from the Home Office—in the top 50 alcohol priority areas specifically to target public perceptions of drunk and rowdy behaviour. Plymouth has been identified as a priority area for 2010-11, and, as such, will receive additional support to tackle alcohol-related crime and disorder. We are currently in the process of planning the next phase of support for our priority areas. On 13 and 14 October, police and licensing colleagues from Plymouth attended the Home Office's alcohol skills seminars in Torbay at which training and guidance was given on enforcement skills. We are also committed to encouraging individual responsibility. We have launched the £4 million national "Know your limits" social marketing campaign to challenge the tolerance of drunkenness as well as establishing nine new adult alcohol arrest referral pilot schemes, and a further six pilot schemes for young people to ensure that those who have been arrested for an alcohol-related offence can benefit from a brief intervention by a trained worker, which should help significantly to reduce reoffending. Furthermore, we have introduced drink-banning orders, which prohibit known troublemakers from entering pubs and clubs and consuming alcohol in public. We are committed to continued reductions in alcohol-related crime and disorder, and we believe that the measures that I have outlined and those that we will consider in future will bring further benefits to our communities. We know that antisocial behaviour is sometimes fuelled by alcohol. Perceptions of antisocial behaviour in Devon and Cornwall are in line with the average for England and Wales, and we have taken a front-footed approach to reducing such behaviour. The new deal for communities has developed local programmes to tackle perceptions of antisocial behaviour over the 10 years it has been operating. My hon. Friend asked with great frustration why the public does not recognise what is going on in their area. Changing attitudes and perceptions is very difficult.