News In Focus
30 August 2007
Late-opening pubs and clubs could pay for policing
Late-opening licensed premises in certain areas could be forced to pay more for their licences to help cover the costs of policing.
The proposal was made by Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill, speaking yesterday at an Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (ACPOS) seminar on licensing.
Effective enforcement will be the key to making new licensing regulations work, according to Mr MacAskill, who asked officers for their views on the so-called "polluter pays" additional fees for late opening premises.
The Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005, which will be phased in over the next two years, will bring in a new licensing system in place of the current legislation which dates back to the 1970s. The Scottish Executive is in the process of making the necessary regulations to support the new regime.
A consultation on fee levels is currently running until 17 September. Mr MacAskill said he wanted to hear views on his proposal as part of that exercise.
The Justice Secretary recognised that questions needed to be addressed, such as how to determine which premises paid and how much they paid, but suggested that the fees could be used "to create a fund to help off-set the costs of additional policing in areas with a large number of late opening premises, areas that are considered antisocial behaviour hotspots - like Lothian Road and Sauchiehall Street on a Friday or Saturday night".
Mr MacAskill commented: "Those who are given the right to sell alcohol must bear the responsibility for the social and economic costs. The effect of alcohol on our city and town centres is not cost free and those who profit from it must contribute to addressing it. It's not right that taxpayers pick up the whole of the bill. Licensees should pay their way too."