Extended drinking hours could lead to more anti-social behaviour

5.26.00pm GMT Wed 23rd Nov 2005

Solihull's Member of Parliament Lorely Burt is calling on Solihull residents to report to the police all instances of Anti-Social Behaviour as a result of longer drinking hours in Solihull pubs.

"If the terms of a new license are broken, then residents have more powers to challenge the terms of the license once it is in place and get it revoked" said Lorely Burt, MP for Solihull. "This puts the responsibility on local residents to call the police, obtain crime numbers and record all incidents of anti-social behaviour before they can get a hearing."

"Furthermore, if the anti social behaviour occurs away from the pub, then residents have no redress against the landlord, whose responsibility ends within the vicinity of the premises" added Lorely.

Mrs Burt voted against 24hr licensing last week in Parliament.

"Past experience suggests that the new licensing arrangements risk a rise in heavy drinking, illicit drug use, violence and traffic accidents" explained Lorely. "Longer licensing hours in Western Australia, Iceland, Ireland and Canada have all lead to increased alcohol consumption."

"I cannot understand why the Government have taken so little notice of these experiences," stated the Lib Dem MP.