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Late-night pubs and bars 'should contribute to policing costs'
Mon 21 Jun 2010
Licensed premises which are open late at night may be required to help meet the cost of policing the surrounding areas.
The government wants establishments that are open after 11pm to pay a law and order fee, as dealing with alcohol-related violence and disorder is becoming increasingly expensive for the police.
Meanwhile, local authorities may be permitted to charge a higher fee to pubs and bars that want a late-night licence.
Any fee charged would be related to the popularity of the establishment.
In addition, businesses could be required to demonstrate how extending their opening hours would benefit people living in the area.
This forms part of a wider effort to reform the 24-hour drinking laws which were introduced under the previous Labour administration.
Other proposals under consideration are geared towards reducing the number of venues licensed to sell alcohol.
Robert Botkai, a partner at Winckworth Sherwood Solicitors, commented: "Any hike in fees for late night licences must be targeted at those premises that do actually take up a disproportionate share of police and other authority resources.
"There are 24-hour premises that will not even appear on the radar of the authorities and such premises should not be penalised.
"There are others that have 24-hour licences but do not utilise them, or if they do then only on a seasonal basis.
"Will they be charged the higher fee too? It is to be hoped that any change in the fee basis will be the subject of a proper consultation exercise."
This comes after home secretary Theresa May confirmed that the government would review existing licensing laws.
