Crime Reduction - Helping to Reduce Crime in Your Area

Policing and Reducing Crime Unit - Crime Reduction Research Series No. 3 (1999) by Ann Deehan.

This report explores the impact of alcohol on crime by gathering together information from the academic, health and policing fields. It discusses the links between alcohol and crime; identifies recommendations to reduce alcohol-related crime; and suggests methods which reduce the level of policing and other resources needed to deal with these offences.

Key findings

Alcohol and crime

• Alcohol-related crime not only includes offences that are alcohol-specific, such as drunk and disorderly or offences against the licensing laws, but covers a continuum of offences, which involve alcohol to a greater or lesser degree. Alcohol can be a disinhibitor, can be used as an excuse, or can result in crime because the individual has a drinking problem. Although alcohol can cause crime, usually it is no more than associated with offending. Drunkenness as a crime appears to cross all age boundaries but is associated mainly with the young, particularly young males where the offence involves aggression. However, the link between alcohol and aggression is not a simple one.

• Situational factors appear to play a strong role in alcohol-related aggressive acts which are in turn often influenced by the protagonist’s expectations of the outcome of a situation. Men, particularly young men, are the most likely victims. However, there is also a strong link between alcohol and domestic violence where women are the victims.

Alcohol and aggression on licensed premises

• Evidence suggests that controlling elements of the physical and social drinking environment can reduce the potential for alcohol-related violence. Attractive and well-maintained licensed premises have fewer violent ‘happy hours’ should be avoided. Serving food tends to be associated with fewer incidents of aggression. Staggered closing times can reduce the numbers of people on the streets at the same time looking for transport and food. The social environment can be influenced by expecting drinkers to behave in a socially acceptable way and by staff actively discouraging any anti-social behaviour. Emphasis should be placed on avoiding selling alcohol to already intoxicated drinkers. Experienced door staff can often pre-empt aggressive incidents.

The role of the criminal justice system and the licensed industry

• The police alongside enforcement of legislation also have an educational role. The custody suite is recognised increasingly for its appropriateness as a setting to divert addicted offenders into treatment and to deliver harm minimisation messages. The courts and probation service also serve as points of diversion into treatment and education. Magistrates can apply conditions to licensed premises’ licences. Probation officers help to support and enforce treatment, when a condition of sentence. The licensee also has an obligation to ensure legal requirements are met on their premises.

What makes a successful alcohol-related crime reduction initiative?

• The most successful initiatives, reviewed for this report, are those that involve a partnership approach. These partnerships involve written agreements, establishment of ownership, adequate funding, active police involvement and an understanding of the need for businesses to make a profit.

Points for action

The research points to no one single measure that will alleviate alcohol-related crime. The importance of the drinking culture cannot be under-estimated. A national alcohol strategy as proposed by the Department of Health could draw together the public health, education and enforcement issues into one planned initiative to reduce the physical, psychological and social harms related to alcohol consumption.

An alcohol strategy could include the following strands:

• Education

• Reducing the availability of alcohol to young people

• Controlling the licensed environment

• Training

• Diversion of problem drinkers into treatment

• Improving official statistics

• The need for a co-ordinated approach

Getting a copy

Alcohol & Crime: Taking Stock is available online as a summary PDF (20 Kb) or a full report PDF (737 Kb).