Vince Cable

At question time in Parliament yesterday (Monday) Vincent Cable MP called for a freeze on the issue of late night licenses until a system has been agreed whereby licensees pay the full cost of additional costs of late night policing.

Next week sees the first batch of applications for 8am to 2am drinks licenses by local pubs. Applicants including 'The Tup' on Richmond Road, Twickenham, and the Ailsa Tavern in St Margaret's. In both cases there are strong local objections largely based on fear of late night violence and anti-social behaviour.

Vincent Cable cited the latest London figures which show that there has been a 150% increase in alcohol-related violent assaults on police officers over the last three years, with 1,500 violent alcohol related assaults of all kinds last year: "it is clear that more police will be needed, on the streets, in the early hours of the morning. Tax payers should not be paying the bill; the licensees should, especially those with a big drinking capacity. Unit a new system for funding is in place, I trust that Richmond Council will take a tough line and refuse licenses. The Minister's reply, I have to say, was weak and evasive and he suggested that the Council use its 'saturation' powers to refuse licenses. This may be a viable objection for town centre pubs but it is no help to residents in residential areas like St Margaret's who are alarmed at the prospect of violent and noisy drunks wandering the streets at 2 to 3am in the morning."