Round-the-clock drinking plans should be put on hold

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 10th Aug 2005

Gordon Seekings says "support the judges report and put the Licencing Act on hold"

Liberal Democrats, both locally and nationally, today renewed calls to put the Licensing Act on hold and backed judges' views that plans to relax drinking laws in England and Wales will lead to a sharp increase in disorder.

The report, from the Council of Her Majesty's Circuit Judges, said that rapes and serious assaults will soar if pubs are allowed to open longer. Crawley Councillor Gordon Seekings said "The judges' statements highlight how stupid the Government's plans on round-the-clock drinking really are."

"By increasing the availability of alcohol before binge drinking is controlled, the Government is in danger of escalating rather than reducing problems of disorder. You only have to walk down Crawley High Street on a Saturday or Sunday evening to see that. The Licensing Act should be put on hold until judges, the police and the public feel confident that their streets are safe."

"Recent figures show that whilst legislation already exists to punish landlords who serve alcohol to customers who are already drunk, nationally on average, there are only eleven prosecutions for this offence every year. Increasing the drinking opportunities before enforcing existing legislation is just plain stupid."