A police split has emerged over licensing reform after London police claimed extended licensing hours will lead to an upsurge in crime and disorder. The Metropolitan Police has broken ranks with the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), which has supported the government's position on the act.
As the guidance to the Licensing Act was published, a leaked report from the Met's clubs and vice unit, based in Westminster, challenges the official line that licensing reform will reduce problems by staggering closing times.
The report suggests that varying closing hours will encourage people to go out later, and so stretch resources by requiring more officers to patrol central London 24-hours day.
It also again raises fears that the lack of late-night public transport will create a boom in illegal cabs and taxi touts.
A spokesman for ACPO said the organisation welcomed the publication of the guidance, and said: "Our position on the Licensing Act remains supportive, including the extension of closing time."
Keith Knowles, managing director of pub operator Interpub and a member of the Westminster Licensees' Association, said the report would provide more ammunition for those lobbying to position the pub at the edge of society on issues such as binge drinking.
He said: "The reality is, pubs have always been right at the heart of society, support in the communities in which they operate. We have to keep reinforcing that message."
Mr Knowles said there are divisions within the Met itself over the hard line the force has taken over central London licensing. A police objection to a licence extension at Interpub's Belushi's bar in Covent Garden has just been withdrawn.
He said: "If the police have problems with resourcing, perhaps they need to look at their own recruitment and promotion structures."
Westminster council has seized on the leak to renew its demands for paid-for policing and the right to charge higher fees when is assumes licensing control.
Cllr Audrey Lewis, Westminster's licensing spokeswoman, said: "We estimate that the cost of inspections in Westminster will be £2.6m per year. We must be able to recoup these costs from the industry."