Plea for tougher action on pub staff assaults
National Pubwatch is calling for tougher sentencing guidelines to ensure people who assault licensees, pub staff or doorstaff receive appropriate penalties.
Chairman Steve Baker made the plea in a Sentencing Council consultation on guidelines for courts, amid concerns that thugs who attack licensees are being let off lightly.
He said: "deliberately causing harm when denied entry to a licensed premises or the purchase of alcohol" should be considered an aggravating factor.
"Many assaults on pub, bar and door staff take place as a result of the offender being denied access to licensed premises, or refused sale of alcohol," Baker said.
"Dealing with such individuals can be extremely difficult, as they may attempt to intimidate or lash out."
He said it was not unreasonable that those who must comply with "stringent" regulations on alcohol sales "should be protected from people who try and circumvent the law, even if the offence is not premeditated".
Trauma
Baker called for greater understanding of how attacks affect their victims, highlighting the trauma of hosts who are subjected to "minor assaults".
He also urged greater consistency in how assaults are categorised, and cautioned against putting too much emphasis on younger offenders' lack of maturity.
He cited licensee Ray Sutton, who was attacked by a 17-year-old he had refused to serve. The offender received an out-of-court disposal.
Baker asked: "If that young person was to appear in court for another assault, should his youth and lack of maturity be considered a factor when he has already had the opportunity to reflect on his offending behaviour?"
Balance
He urged "flexibility and balance" when sentencing people with mental illness, so that public safety wasn't compromised.
The submission included National Pubwatch's DVD, which features interviews with licensees who feel the people who attacked them were dealt with too softly, as part of its Court Not Caution campaign.
The consultation closes on 5 January.
