The council launched its consultation on introducing a levy this week, saying that it believed in ‘setting fair and appropriate contribution to the cost of policing Liverpool from midnight to six am.’
Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers chief executive Kate Nicholls said: “We are once again repeating our call for local authorities to have caution when considering a levy and reminding them of the work already being carried out by the sector to address harms.
“The Government’s own guidance on levies and EMROs states that they should be used as a measure of last resort when other efforts have proven fruitless and a problem still exists. Pubs and bars spend great deal of time engaging in voluntary and partnership schemes to ensure that their venues are safe and responsible places to drink. Late night venues in Liverpool are also contributing much financially to the local economy in the form of taxes and business rates and any additional levy is a punitive measure against hardworking businesses.
"We are urging Liverpool City Council to work with local businesses, not against them, and to consider all other options before introducing an additional tax on businesses.”
Although there is heated opposition to levys, licensing expert Richard Arnot said there was a ‘begrudging support’ for the scheme in Newcastle. Speaking at the PMA’s MA300 event, Arnot said that had started to see real results from the money raised, including an increased police presence, more CCTV and new thermal cameras.
Despite some initial cynicism about their effectiveness, Arnot added that street pastors have emerged as one of the policy’s major successes and have proved extremely useful in dealing with vulnerable people. The council is now inviting street pastors into venues during busy periods.
However, he warned that levys must be run with a spirit of co-operation between operators, police and the council, something he felt hasn’t been achieved outside of Newcastle.