Is this a licence for trouble?

LATE-NIGHT violence and antisocial behaviour, much of it fuelled by alcohol, is at an "unacceptable" level and must be tackled.

That was the message from Chief Superintendent Tim Madgwick, York's most senior police officer, in a letter to all of the city's licensees this month.

His words came only two months before the new licensing laws come into affect, opening the doors of many pubs, bars and nightclubs even later into the night.

Many fear this could lead to even higher levels of violence, disorder and crime linked to excessive drinking and antisocial behaviour.

In his letter, which for the first time publicly acknowledges the growing crisis, Chief Supt Madgwick said: "York is suffering from a high level of antisocial behaviour and late-night violence, much of which is fuelled by alcohol."

He has called on licensees to play their part in "reducing this unacceptable level of crime" as everyone meets the "challenges and opportunities" of changes to the licensing hours.

As revealed in the Evening Press last week, hundreds of residents have objected to bids by bars to open later, not just in the city centre but in neighbourhoods, including Copmanthorpe, Heslington, Holgate and Huntington.

Many households believe later closing will lead to more public nuisance, rowdy behaviour, vandalism and street violence.

Senior police officers are already planning their response to these concerns. They include:

Two new CCTV vans that will patrol the city and monitor the behaviour of people, with evidence recorded and used in prosecutions

Test purchase operations will target on-licensed business for the first time, to catch staff who sell alcohol to under-18s. Both the seller, licensee and offender will be prosecuted

Bars that fail to deal with drunkenness and violence on their premises and in the immediate area may have their licence reviewed and ultimately removed

Extra officers will patrol the streets in the busy weekends leading up to Christmas, as they have in recent weeks during Operation Claw.

They have welcomed plans in the Violent Crime Bill to give them powers to ban offenders from licensed premises, even if the crime they committed did not take place in a pub. Chief Supt Madgwick said the truth is no-one knows what will happen on November 24 when the flag goes up on a new drinking regime.

But he admits the timing, with only weeks to go until Christmas, a time when York Police traditionally experience a rise in drink-related violence and other problems, is not ideal.

He said: "There's a huge debate about what this will mean for the future of York. It can be a positive thing or it can have a real negative impact.

"There are some potentially serious consequences of the deregulation of hours. It is my job to exploit every opportunity to make York a safer place."

Elaine Curtis, at Safer York Partnership, is one person who has a good view of how alcohol can fuel not just crime, but other social ills. She chairs the city's drug and alcohol steering group.

A recent study commissioned by the group laid bare the shocking extent of alcohol abuse by York residents, with an estimated 24,000 people admitting to regular binge drinking. She said excess drinking may not just be connected to increased violence, but other crimes such as domestic violence..

"It's about getting things right long term and not just finding short- term fixes," she said. "We are good at working with others, including the police, council and health services in the most effective way we can."

All must play their part to ensure we meet challenge

Chief Superintendent Madgwick, left, sets out some of the challenges the city could face under the new licensing regime

AS the dawn of the new licensing era fast approaches, now is the time we have to ask ourselves: "What kind of city do we want York to be in the future?"

The loosening of restrictions on pubs, bars and nightclubs will give people more freedom than ever before to drink when and where they want. On the one hand this could be a positive change. York's night-time economy is an often overlooked part of the thriving tourism landscape.

I know that people travel from far and wide to enjoy short breaks and long holidays in our beautiful and historic city.

This is not just about tourists who might want to enjoy a drink after they have visited the theatre or been out for a late meal. Residents too, should be able to choose when they visit their local pub or sports club.

But on the other hand there could be negative consequences too.

These could be in terms of increased crime and disorder and the impact on quality of life, not to forget the extra pressure on transport and health care at irregular hours.

The problems are not limited to city centre streets either. Domestic violence and absenteeism may also be affected. Smaller neighbourhoods fear the impact of their local pub and store opening later. We are working hard to make sure the consequences of change are positive, but the issue for me is that no-one can genuinely predict how this shift in our culture will affect us all.

York Police are starting to impact on violence and antisocial behaviour, particularly in the city centre. But this is resource intensive and there are other serious issues which also deserve attention.

The police require all the partners and communities within the city to play their part in tackling the consequences of alcohol-related crime.

Licensees are already playing their role and other agencies, including the health service, York council and Safer York Partnership.

As I said, we don't know precisely what the full extent of the challenges will be.

What I can say for certain is we will continue to police York with a vigour and determination to tackle crime in the knowledge that we have the full support of the community.

'Someone was coming in with a 12ins sword'

A LANDLORD today spoke of his "horror" at seeing a man with a samurai sword trying to force his way into his pub.

Terrified passers-by dialled 999 after an argument in the Corner House pub in Burton Stone Lane, York, spilled into the street.

More than a dozen police officers in protective armour raced to the scene, and laid siege to a nearby flat for two hours.

Corner House landlord David Turner was upstairs at the time of the incident, at about 8pm on Saturday.

Mr Turner said: "I heard a commotion downstairs so I went to investigate. I saw straight away that someone was trying to get into the pub, and I could see he had a samurai sword with a 12-inch blade."

The police had already been called, and arrived minutes later.

By then, up to six men had become involved in a violent struggle in the street outside.

The argument is believed to have broken out following an arm-wrestling competition inside the pub.

Soon after, witnesses outside reported seeing a number of men taking their shirts off in preparation for a fight.

DS Nigel Costello, of York CID, told the Evening Press: "A group of about six men appeared to be fighting among themselves, and there were suggestions that someone had a bladed weapon."

There were no injuries reported, but police sealed off the immediate area and began to search for the man armed with the sword.

Acting on a tip-off, 15 heavily-armoured officers surrounded a flat opposite the pub for two hours, but when they finally forced their way in there was nobody inside.

Mr Turner said: "I was absolutely horrified when I saw what was going on. My first thought when I saw the sword was to get my staff behind the bar and keep my customers safe.

"Suddenly the phone rang, and it was the York police control room. Seconds later the first of nine police vehicles arrived.

"No one was allowed in or out until they were sure the flat was empty.

"At the time it was pretty frightening, but thankfully it seems no one got hurt. It could have been so much worse." DC Alan Rowan added: "This pub is in a residential area, and it must be absolutely terrifying for people to know something like this could happen on a road where their children walk home from school."

Anyone who witnessed the incident is urged to contact DC Rowan at York CID on 0845 6060247.

In March, the Honorary Recorder of York, Judge Paul Hoffman, voiced his concern about the availability of samurai swords. He said: "Samurai sword incidents are increasing. That is because it is easy for people to buy them. There is no control over them."

North Yorkshire Trading Standards officers have also called for a change in the legislation governing such weapons.

'Residents concerns should be heard'

COUNCILS should not automatically agree to applications for longer opening hours, the Government has warned.

In a letter to every local authority in England and Wales, culture secretary Tessa Jowell said she wanted residents' fears to be listened to before any late licences are granted.

She said: "The Licensing Act will bring in tougher protections against alcohol-related crime and disorder as well as ensuring public safety.

"I want to be clear. Where an application for longer hours would undermine those objectives, the public interest should win hands down."

She also said the new drinking laws should be reviewed within ninety days to examine their effects.

In York, about 900 residents have protested against late-night opening of pubs and clubs.

They have expressed their fears over noise and disturbance in the early hours.

But of more than 70 applications considered by York's licensing sub-committees, only two have been turned down.

Cells packed - it's a quiet night

EVENING Press reporter Tom Stirling took to the streets of York on Saturday night.

6pm - Notorious Micklegate is busy, but relatively peaceful. Police officers and cars are already patrolling the streets, but none of the emergency services report any trouble - yet.

8pm - Police are called to the Corner House pub in Burton Stone Lane by terrified passers-by. A group of about six men are fighting in the street, and there are reports that one of them is armed with a samurai sword. Officers arrive and a two-hour siege of a nearby flat begins.

8.25pm - A large gang of drunken youths has set fire to a rubbish bin in Rawcliffe Lane, Clifton, and firefighters are called to put out the blaze. A fire service spokesman describes the incident as "normal for a Saturday night". A City of York Council ranger is sent to disperse the youths.

9.30pm - In York city centre, a mobile police station has been set up in Rougier Street. Crowds are already gathering at nearby pubs and clubs, but there is a large police presence. Fourteen uniformed officers are on foot patrol as part of Operation Claw, a four-day clampdown on anti-social behaviour.

10.35pm - Special Constable Stephen Hodges is manning the mobile station. He says it has been a relatively quiet night so far, "although it is still early".

10.40pm - A violent scuffle breaks out in Tanner Row. Sixteen people are involved. SC Hodges steps in to separate the brawlers. All concerned are warned about their behaviour.

11pm - PC Catriona McBeath has been patrolling near Lendal Bridge. A Ministry of Defence police officer, she is normally based at Dishforth, near Thirsk, but has been brought to York to help out with Operation Claw. "This is when everything starts to kick off," she warns.

11.45pm - Someone has smashed a large glass bottle in the middle of the road in Blossom Street. York-bound traffic has to swerve around the shards. A doorman at a nearby pub phones the council to get it cleared up.

12.05am - PC Steve Harvey, from York Police, is on patrol in George Hudson Street. He reports "a few argy-bargies, but there has been no serious violence."

12.15am - Police arrest a man in York city centre for drunk and disorderly behaviour, the first arrest of the night.

12.30am - Coney Street is packed and noisy. A drunken man hammers aggressively on the roof of the Evening Press car as it inches its way along.

1.30am - It's now the busiest time of night for the police, as drunken revellers come spilling out of nightclubs. One man is arrested for assault, another for being drunk and disorderly and two for using threatening or abusive behaviour.

2.30am - At last the streets begin to empty. Only the "waifs and strays" are left, says Sergeant Paul Armstrong at Fulford Road police station. Sgt Armstrong is pleased with how the night has gone. The station's cells are packed and officers have made five arrests in York city centre alone - and that's considered quiet.

Updated: 10:00 Monday, September 26, 2005