Yobs set to blame pubs under 'Last Drink Policy'
Licensees have been told they could face prosecution if anyone arrested for an alcohol-related offence fingers their premises as the last place they had a drink.
Under a new initiative launched by police in West Cornwall, called the "Last Drink Policy", any person who is arrested for a crime linked to alcohol will be questioned as to where they had their last drink. The police say the licensee of those premises could then be subject to further action.
Publicans were in uproar after receiving a letter from the local police detailing the new initiative, which they fear could leave them open to prosecution.
Licensee Peter Hollis of the Falmouth Packet Inn in Penzance, Cornwall, contacted The Publican outraged by the plan.
He said: "We control drinking to the best of our ability in our own premises. We cannot be held responsible for what the public do outside. We are being left open to abuse by whoever is caught by the police.
"A vast majority of the public do their drinking at home or elsewhere before they go out to our pubs for the evening, therefore I feel this initiative by the police could be unworkable."
Paul Hornsby, licensee of the Pirate Inn, also in Penzance, thinks the police should be targeting clubs in the area, especially those that run all-you-can-drink offers.
He said: "Everything the police are doing is already covered by the law. It's a good idea to remind certain pubs that operate close to the mark. However, there is more trouble in the clubs here."
Tony Payne, chief executive of the Federation of Licensed Victuallers' Associations, was critical of the campaign: "This is over the top. This policy is fraught with so many dangers. I hope the police will review this and speak to the trade."
However, a spokesman for the police said responsible licensees had nothing to fear.
Sergeant Graham Claybourn of the community safety team for West Cornwall said: "We are taking the responsibility back to the licensee.
"We are not going to be over zealous. If we get a lot of intelligence about a particular pub we will definitely be taking positive action."
Pictured: Licensee Peter Hollis shows the letter detailing the Last Drink scheme.
