Humberside Police Authority Members today unanimously backed the fight to drive down alcohol related crime in the area by committing £288,000 to support new and innovative work by partner organisations.
Humberside has the highest level of alcohol related violent crime in the Yorkshire and Humber areas and the public gave the Authority a clear message earlier this year that they want the police to concentrate on tackling that problem.
The Authority has always recognised that the problem cannot be tackled just by the police, alone, enforcing law on the streets, often when offenders have already had far too much to drink. Other initiatives, which change culture and drinking habits, have to be tried.
The Authority therefore asked each of the Drugs and Alcohol Team partners in the four local authorities in Humberside to come up with ideas that will support that change.
In North East Lincolnshire £92,000 was requested to increase education and preventative work already under way and to provide alternative activities that will divert young people away from alcohol.
In North Lincolnshire £66,000 was asked for to be put into an arrest referral scheme that will ‘sign post’ drinkers into brief advice and interventions programmes.
The East Riding of Yorkshire wishes to spend £60,000 on expanding its drug team to tackle alcohol. This will include providing workers who will give information and brief advice. They will also launch a pilot a programme of drinking seminars which offenders would pay to attend.
In Hull £70,000 was requested to appoint two alcohol outreach workers who will work with custody and the courts service to enable early and easy access to advice treatment and support. A small amount of money will be spent on diversionary activities including mentoring.
However, after hearing arguments for and against the proposal, Members decided this would not include paying for access to gyms.
Speaking about the decision Ros Taylor MBE, Chair of Humberside Police Authority said;
“Despite the magnificent efforts of our police officers, special constables and PCSOs in arresting offenders alcohol continues to cause huge problems in our communities.
In 2011 across the Humber area there were nearly 5,500 violent crimes recorded attributable to alcohol. Government, in their alcohol strategy are urging the police and partners to develop innovative approaches and the Police Authority therefore has a legitimate interest in putting resources behind tackling the cause and not just dealing with the after effects.
Let me be clear, those who commit violent crime, particularly serious assaults, will still face the full weight of the law with the prospect of custody for the worst offences.
These schemes are about trying to support people who recognise, and are prepared to address their drink problems. As we have heard today, if we can make these schemes work by using money from our reserves, then we will see less police time and energy being spent on picking up the pieces.
Ultimately this could lead to big savings in not just the police budget but also across a range of other partners budgets such as local authorities, health, Probation and the courts who also find their time and resources taken up dealing with the after effects of excessive drinking’
