Decision details

The Committee considered the report of the Environmental and Technical Services Director advising of the “Safe and Secure Town Centre at Night Audit of Crosby Village, a strategic intervention to assess the issues involved in alcohol-related violence and disorder in town centres at night; and indicating that a decision on this matter was required to obtain support from the Public Health Partnership for further town centre audits.  The report had already been considered by the Cabinet Member - Environmental, the Cabinet Member - Communities and Crosby Area Committee.

The report indicated that the Audit had been carried out between November and December 2009 using a ‘toolkit’ that had been broken down into 13 categories; and summarised the findings from each category relating to:

• partnership working
• data and information sharing
• licensed premises
• policing strategies
• capable guardians and street welfare
• CCTV
• lighting
• underage drinking
• transport
• offenders and victims
• visual cues in the town centre
• fast food outlets
• access routes for space allocation

The report indicated that the findings of the audit provided stakeholders in the Crosby Night Time Economy with a structure for dealing with any remaining issues connected with alcohol related violence and disorder and would help to prioritise issues and take action to deal with them.

Attached as Annex 1 to the report was a copy of the “Safety and Secure Town Centres at Night Toolkit”.

The report concluded by recommending the action required to be taken to satisfy the minimum standard for a safe and secure town centre.

The Legal Adviser asked that it be noted that contrary to the information contained in paragraph 11 "Category 4 - Policing Strategies" there was in fact a S.12 Designated Public Place Order in force in that area and it was this Order that provided the Police with the ability to ask the public to surrender containers they believed to contain alcohol.

Arising from discussion about the report, concern was expressed that the Police were not in attendance to respond to questions by Committee Members.  The Committee Administrator indicated that Constable Steve Woods was on the Committee circulation list and had been notified about the meeting, but that he could not be obligated to attend.

The Senior Licensing Officer indicated that he would contact Constable Woods regarding his attendance at this and future meetings of the Licensing and Regulatory Committee.

RESOLVED:  That:

(1)       the findings of the “Safe and Secure Town Centre at Night Audit of Crosby Village” be noted and further work be encouraged towards areas of potential improvement in the areas outlined in the report;

(2)       the Public Health Partnership Alcohol Strategy Group and the Alcohol Related Crime Sub-Group be requested to consider the recommendations in the Audit report; and

(3)       it be noted that contrary to the information contained in paragraph 11 "Category 4 - Policing Strategies", there was in fact a S.12 Designated Public Place Order in force in that area and it was this Order that provided the Police with the ability to ask the public to surrender containers they believed to contain alcohol.