It is estimated that alcohol-related crime and disorder costs the United Kingdom (UK) taxpayer between £8 and £13 billion a year. The mandatory code introduces five conditions for all alcohol retailers which will ensure consistent good practice and crack down on problem premises where irresponsible drinking could put individuals at risk and lead to crime and antisocial behavior.

The new conditions are:

- banning irresponsible promotions such as “all you can drink for £10″ offers, women drink free deals and speed drinking competitions. These promotions encourage people to drink quickly or irresponsibly and could lead to crime or antisocial behavior;

- banning “dentist’s chairs” where drink is poured directly into the mouths of customers making it impossible for them to control the amount they are drinking; and

- ensuring free tap water is available for customers – allowing people to space out their drinks and reduce the risks of becoming dangerously drunk.

The remaining conditions come into effect on 1 October to give retailers time to prepare. They are:

- ensuring all those who sell alcohol have an age verification policy in place requiring them to check the ID of anyone who looks under 18 to prevent underage drinking which can lead to antisocial behavior and put young people at risk of harm; and

- ensuring that all on trade premises make available small measures of beers, wine and spirits to customers so customers have the choice between a single or double measure of spirits and a large or small glass of wine.

Home Office Minister Alan Campbell said:

“Alcohol-related crime costs the UK billions of pounds every year and while the vast majority of retailers are responsible, a minority continue to run irresponsible promotions which fuel the excessive drinking that leads to alcohol-related crime and disorder.

“The code will see an end to these promotions and ensure premises check the ID of those who appear to be underage helping to make our towns and city centers safer places for those who just want to enjoy a good night out.”

Any premises that breach the mandatory code or any secondary conditions that have been imposed will face a range of possible sanctions including losing their license, having additional tough conditions imposed on their license or, on summary conviction a maximum £20,000 fine and/or six months imprisonment.

Following a nationwide consultation in 2008, which generated more than 7,000 responses, the Home Office actively engaged with the alcohol industry to develop the final five conditions and to produce a “best practice” document for all retailers which sets out the best voluntary initiatives that the alcohol industry has produced.

Charlotte Elmer, Heineken UK, said:

“We welcomed the opportunity to participate fully in the consultation process on the mandatory code and found the Home Office to be open and responsive in taking on board industry concerns about some elements of the original draft.

“This partnership working approach has ensured the final version of the Code is proportionate, raising standards by banning the extreme end of promotions, such as drink all you can for £10. We do not believe this kind of deep discounting to drive footfall sits side by side with the promotion of responsible consumption.

“We also welcome the requirement to ensure free tap water and smaller measures are available as another contribution towards making town centers and our night-time economy a welcoming environment for everyone and achieving our shared aim of reduced alcohol-related crime and health harms.”

As well as the new mandatory code the government also introduced Drinking Banning Orders (DBOs) on conviction from 1 April on a phased roll out starting in 25 local justice areas. An order will allow magistrates to ban or prevent an individual who has committed a crime under the influence of alcohol, from entering any premises that sell alcohol.

Source: Home Office

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How People Arrived Here:

drink promotions england

Diversionary activities including football, archery, rounders and a climbing wall took place every Friday and Saturday night for 12 weeks. The project was set up following a series of problems with anti-social behavior in the park.

On a visit to the park on March 4th Mr Campbell met with those who took part in Operation Windburn and local residents to find out about the impact of the project.

Home Office Minister Alan Campbell said:

“No one should be expected to suffer from antisocial behavior and it is far better that we prevent it from happening in the first place rather than dealing with it after the event. Projects like Operation Windburn are key to doing this and don’t just benefit young people but the entire community as well.

“We will continue to support our local partners to tackle anti-social behavior with projects like this. However we have made it clear that when anti-social behavior is happening we expect it to be tackled not tolerated with all the tools and powers at their disposal.”

Inspector Glenn Jones from Wigan’s Neighbourhood Policing Team, said:

“Young people tell us they often feel a sense of alienation within their own community. Projects like Operation Windburn address that, giving them their own space and providing them with activities in safe surroundings where they aren’t at any risk and can socialize with their peers.

“We were also able to build relationships with the young people, and where we identified issues around drugs or alcohol, we were able to make appropriate referrals. During the three months the project ran, other areas surrounding Mesnes Park also reported a drop in anti-social behavior, so it’s a win-win situation.”

Sue Turner, from the Friends of Mesnes Park, said:
“The park is there for the entire community to enjoy. Those that abuse it, and intimidate other users, are depriving local people of this wonderful amenity.

“The Friends of Mesnes Park group has a vision for the park which sees it being used and enjoyed by all members of the community, with a program of events open to everybody. Operation Windburn is a measure which helps us claim the park back for all.”

Councilor Kevin Anderson, Wigan Council’s cabinet champion for neighborhoods, said:

“The success of Operation Windburn lies 100 per cent with the partners who signed up to it, and who worked together in a coordinated fashion to encourage young people to get involved in positive, healthy activities.

“It is a simple but effective way of diverting young people who may potentially be tempted to get caught up in antisocial behavior. Furthermore this kind of initiative gives local residents much needed peace of mind.”

Wigan is one of 62 areas across the country receiving additional support from the Home Office to tackle perceptions of antisocial behavior. It includes help from an antisocial behavior (ASB) Delivery Expert to identify problems and, where needed, the ASB Action Squad to help drive up performance. A Victims’ Champion will also be appointed to stand alongside victims and deliver practical help.

Source: Home Office

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How People Arrived Here:

operation windburn

Proposals within the Bill will make it mandatory for all wheel clamping businesses to be licensed under the terms of a strict code of conduct. The code will include a cap on fines, time limits on towing cars unreasonably quickly after being clamped and set out clear instructions for putting up signs warning drivers that clamping takes place.

Ministers are also looking to introduce an independent appeals process for motorists who feel unfairly penalized by firms and their employees.

Any company which breaches the terms of their license could lose their right to practice and face up to five years in prison or a substantial fine.

Home Office Minister Alan Campbell, said:

“The Crime and Security Bill reflects the Government’s commitment to prevent abuses by unscrupulous firms and their employees.

“There is no room within the wheel clamping industry for those who indulge in unacceptable behavior including unclear signage and excessive fees.

“A compulsory licensing scheme for operators will leave clamping firms in no doubt as to their responsibility to the public and anyone breaching the strict code of practice risks losing their license.

“Firms will have to ensure signage is clear, fines are proportionate and towing practices are regulated. We are also working to introduce an independent appeals process for motorists who feel they have been unfairly treated.”

Sadiq Khan, Transport Minister, said:

“These tough new proposals are part of a series of measures the Government is putting in place to tackle the scourge of rogue parking firms who harass and intimidate motorists.

“We have already taken action to restrict access for parking firms wanting driver information and by bringing in these new requirements for clamping firms we are sending a clear message to unscrupulous firms that they need to clean up their act if they want to stay in business.”

The new legislation has been drawn up following discussions with motoring groups, industry representatives and a 12-week public consultation during the summer.

Currently, any individual undertaking wheel clamping must hold a frontline licence from the Security Industry Authority (SIA), with supervisors or directors holding a non-frontline license.

The new Compulsory Licensing Scheme will extend responsibility from individuals to businesses. It will be administered and controlled by the Security Industry Authority.

Source: Home Office

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Speaking at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on Saturday, Campbell stated his country’s resolve to intensify the war against drugs.

Campbell said his country decided to collaborate with Nigeria because of its strategic importance with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and in Africa.

According to him, Britain knew where the drugs were trafficked through West Africa, and that his visit to Nigeria was because the country was key to his country’s fight against drug trafficking that “might originate from South America, and brought down to West Africa through which it eventually arrives in the UK.”

No single country, he said could combat drug related crimes on its own, and urged global co-operation in order to tackle the problem. “That means putting in place a level of security ; identifying those people and sharing information and taking action to make sure that these people are stopped”

Campbell said the level of security at the Lagos airport was impressive, adding “obviously our officials are working very closely with the airport authority to combat this menace. We need to send a very strong message to people that traffic or produce drugs. We want to make Nigeria and elsewhere a hostile environment for drug traffickers and we need to send a very strong message that we are not going to sit back and allow drugs to damage our society and that means putting in place a level of security, identifying those people and sharing information”.

The Director-General of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Lanre Ipinmisho said he was encouraged by the visit of Mr. Campbell and his team. “We should work harder and work well with other collaborators and other partners,” he said.

Source African Press Agency

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The new technology, which will allow customers to buy things by swiping them over sensors in a similar way to Oyster cards, is being trialled by phone companies and banks in the UK. In an effort to design out opportunities for crime and reduce harm to consumers the government has been working with industry to ensure the technology builds in tough security measures at the earliest stages.

Working with the government the mobile phone and banking industry have agreed to a set of guidelines. They have committed to ensuring consumers are not put at an increased risk due to the development of this technology, especially young people who are often the earliest adopters of technology and suffer from disproportionate risk. The guidelines include:

• ensuring contactless payment functions, SIM cards and phones will be disabled as soon as possible once a contactless payment mobile phone is reported lost or stolen;

• that any transactions above the maximum contactless payment value (currently £10) will require verification, such as a pin code, similar to the current guidelines that underpin existing contactless card payment schemes. Additional security such as a pin codes will also be required if more than a certain number of low-value transactions are  carried out consecutively; and

• any customer who signs up for a contactless payment phone will be encouraged to add their details on the National Mobile Phone Register to make it easier for stolen phones to be identified and recovered.

Home Office Minister Alan Campbell said:

“These guidelines are an important step forward in protecting the public from criminals. I am pleased that the mobile and banking industries have worked with us to ensure that the public are protected at the earliest opportunity.

“By working closely with industry we have already put in place measures to make it harder for thieves to profit from mobile phone theft – around 90 per cent of handsets reported stolen are now blocked within 24 hours of reporting reducing their value and the incentive for criminals.

“This technology is an exciting new development but we must continue to work together to reduce any new opportunities for criminals to profit from mobile theft. As new technologies like this develop we aim to consider where safeguards can be incorporated at the drawing board stage.”

Jack Wraith, spokesman for the Mobile Phone Industry said:

“The Mobile Phone Industry has welcomed the opportunity to work with the Banking Industry in developing these guidelines to ensure that the customer experience in using contactless payments, via mobile devices, is both secure and robust. The mobile phone is an integral part of modern day life and the Mobile Phone Industry will continue to work with all stakeholders to mitigate any risk to our customers in the operation of contactless payment technology.

“The partnership, between the customer and their home network is core to the customer experience in using mobile phones and while the banking industry develops payment applications the Mobile Phone Industry will continue to provide support, advice and best practice to protect this experience. The Mobile Phone Industry welcomes the support of the Government and Police in the ongoing fight to prevent criminals from benefiting from mobile phone theft”

Paul Marsh, Director of The UK Cards Association, said:

“We have welcomed the opportunity to engage in discussions with the Home Office, the mobile phone industry, Visa and MasterCard at this early stage, to ensure that principles around customer protection are agreed across the board. The payments industry is sensitive to customer concerns’ about security and has always set high standards for its products; any new payment solutions will be developed with precisely this in mind.”

Contactless payment phones use near-field communication technology to authorize payments on an individual’s credit or debit cards or pre-paid account.

Previous advances in technology have led to unexpected new forms of crime; email heralded the phenomenon of ‘phishing’, ATMs precipitated the new crime of ‘card catching’ and online banking gave rise to ‘key logging’, used by fraudsters to track the input of secret passwords and account numbers.

However, there are also many examples of design being applied successfully to reduce opportunities for crime – for example, British Crime Survey figures show theft of vehicles has reduced by 51 per cent since 1997 as a result of improved security being designed into the vehicle, and an evaluation of houses built to the ACPO Secured By Design (SBD) standards showed that these experience 26 per cent less crime than non SBD houses, and residents fear of crime is lower.

Source: Home Office

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A total of £5.44 million will be given to police forces in England and Wales, compared with £3.71 million paid out in the same quarter last year. Since the Proceeds of Crime Act came into effect in 2003, £530.5 million has been seized. An incentive scheme introduced in 2006 allows the police and recovery agencies to retain half of all cash they seize from criminals.

Home Office Minister Alan Campbell said:

“This scheme is a great benefit for policing. Taking money from criminals makes crime far less profitable for them. At the same time, that money is ploughed directly back into the police force that seized it so they can use it for their fight against crime in their area.

“Recovering more than £30 million from criminals in the space of three months is a great achievement and I want to thank the police and other partners for their hard work in seizing the money and undermining criminal gangs.”

Mick Creedon, Chief Constable of Derbyshire Constabulary and Association of Chief Police Officers lead on Asset Recovery, said:

“The public are quite rightly sick and tired of seeing criminals leading lavish lifestyles without challenge and all forces across England and Wales are determined to respond to this and make full use of the available powers granted under the Proceeds of Crime Act and other legislation.

“We continue to work closely with the Home Office and other asset recovery agencies to ensure that not only crime doesn’t pay, but that it is also seen by the public that it doesn’t pay.”

Source: Home Office

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Justice Minister Bridget Prentice said:

“This new law is a powerful tool that will help ensure that no-one is forced into marriage against their will and those already in such marriages will receive protection.

“It is fitting that the law comes into force on White Ribbon Day; the ribbon is a symbol of hope and challenges the acceptability of domestic violence.

“Our policies reinforce that hope and send a clear message that we are committed to providing support and help to victims and that violence of any kind will not be tolerated.”

Under the Act, a Forced Marriage Protection Order will contain terms that are designed to protect the victim in their particular circumstances. Failure to comply with an order could lead to imprisonment.

Examples of the types of orders the court may make to prevent a forced marriage from occurring are:

* to hand over passports;
* to stop intimidation and violence;
* to reveal the whereabouts of a person; and
* to stop someone from being taken abroad.

The Act supports and has been made possible by the work of the Home Office and Foreign Office’s joint ‘Forced Marriage Unit’ and the many voluntary and charitable organizations that provide support.

Shaminder Ubhi, Director of the Ashiana Network said:

“We very much hope that the Forced Marriage Act will be of value to those at risk of forced marriage; the measures have been put in place to enable people to seek protection through court orders and we hope this will help prevent forced marriages and assist those already forced into marriages. Understandably, not all people will want to seek legal redress but certainly this Act sends a clear message that forced marriage will not be tolerated and perpetrators will be held accountable”.

Importantly, the Act gives the courts discretion to deal flexibly and sensitively with the circumstances of each individual case. It employs civil remedies that offer protection to victims without criminalizing members of their family.

Following public consultation, the Government is also publishing today statutory guidance setting out the strategic responsibilities of agencies in England and Wales who may be involved with handling cases of forced marriage.

Alan Campbell, Home Office Minister said:

“We are determined to do all we can to support victims of forced marriage, prevent others from becoming victims and provide police and other agencies the tools and powers they need. We are bringing into force statutory guidance for agencies such as the police, education professionals and health and social workers which pull together existing guidelines on how to recognize and handle cases of forced marriage.

“We have consulted with all agencies that have a duty to safeguard children and adults to bring together this guidance and we are confident that it will improve the support we can provide to victims of this appalling practice.”

Source: Ministry of Justice

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