Police commissioner launches 'Action for Change' on alcohol-related crime

Devon and Cornwall’s Police and Crime Commissioner is launching an “Action for Change” forum, to tackle alcohol misuse and related crime. The cost to society and policing resources is enormous and Tony Hogg has made reducing it a top priority in his Police and Crime Plan.

The Commissioner has invited senior local and national figures to a ‘think tank’ in Plymouth on Monday (16 September) which will help inform and set the agenda for the forum, a group tasked with setting a fresh and innovative strategy for the Devon and Cornwall force area.

It will work alongside current, more local, alcohol strategies, and will be informed by ‘best practice’ schemes that already have a proven track record. It will also take account of the Peninsula Strategic Assessment which will help to provide an effective ‘joined up’ approach across Devon and Cornwall.

Tony Hogg says: “Alcohol fuelled violence is one of the biggest concerns for local people and something I feel passionately about. This is not just about the night time economy in our bigger towns and cities. We also have a massive influx of tourists to our holiday destinations and we mustn’t forget our rural communities either.

"Although binge drinking and drunk nightclubbers spilling out on to the streets in the early hours of the morning are both major problems, the impact of alcohol misuse is much bigger and more widespread.”

Among the guest speakers at Monday’s event is Bill Donne from the nationally renowned “Best Bar None”, the award winning scheme promoting responsible management and operation of alcohol licensed premises. Dr James Nicholls will provide insight from Alcohol Policy UK and Dr Sarah Wollaston MP (Totnes) has strong views about the true impact of alcohol on our society.

Other attendees include senior local Council leaders and Chief Executives, Community Safety Partnership representatives, Health professionals, licensing officers, alcohol partnerships, trading standards and many other organisations such as Alcoholics Anonymous, Addaction and Public Health England.

Tony Hogg: “As Police and Crime Commissioner I am in a unique position to bring informed and influential decision makers from the whole region together. I have listened closely to public concerns, and I have strong views myself, but I need professional experts to play a major part in driving change, quickly and effectively.”

“That is what next Monday’s event and the “Action for Change Forum” is all about. We have no time to waste in translating views into action.”

See Tony Hogg's interview in our video section to the right of this page.