Voters will have a say on pay-for-policing

Tony Blair has pushed pay-for-policing back on to the political agenda in his newly launched "Big Conversation" initiative, which gives the public a chance to influence government policy.

The Prime Minister has asked voters directly if they want pubs, clubs and bars to contribute towards the cost of policing anti-social behaviour caused by binge-drinking.

In the Big Conversation document, the Prime Minister asks: "Should businesses like large city centre nightclubs which generate public order problems pay towards the costs of controlling disorder outside as well as inside their premises?"

The move flies in the face of recent statements in Parliament by both Mr Blair and culture secretary Tessa Jowell, which seemed to rule out so-called "polluter pays" levies on pubs and bars.

This latest blow comes on the heels of plans for a new pay-for-policing scheme launched by home secretary David Blunkett to fund community police officers. The move has caused uproar in the trade.

Bill Sharp, licensee and spokesman for the Guild of Master Victuallers, said: "The licensed trade is one of the biggest contributors to the Treasury and to be singled out for something we already pay excessively for is outrageous.

"We pay enough in rates and insurance as it is. This is the final straw. We are the milked cow and now the udders are dry. There is nothing left.

"The government may have said it wasn't going to pursue this policy but this news just shows that, as always with this government, it is full of lies and spin."

What publicans say about pay-for-policing​

• Chris Scholey:​ The Bedford, Balham, South London​

"I don't agree with it at all. I think the government is making a huge judgement without any consultation with licensees, the local police, Pubwatch or the local authority. If you treat people like animals they will act like animals. The government is putting all these restrictions on an industry that is already highly controlled."

Peter Walker:​ The Chequers Inn, Bishop Thornton, near Harrogate, Yorkshire​

"I am concerned with this. I think supermarkets and cross-Channel ferries should be charged as well. People are buying more drink from them. Pubs are unfairly blamed for things all the time. People are getting drunk with booze from supermarkets before they go out."

Nick Christoforou:​ The Seafield, Hove, East Sussex​

"I think that is a complete load of nonsense. We pay enough in rents and rates as it is. Most of the time, if there are any problems we sort them out before the police get to the scene anyway. I think if the government targets irresponsible licenses then that is fair enough, but on the whole we don't have many problems like that down in Hove."

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