Vince Cable

Analysis by the Borough's Community Safety partnership shows that by far the biggest crime problem in the Borough is violent and anti-social behaviour originating as drunkenness:

- 83% of all assaults are alcohol related (and a third of all these assaults were domestic violence)

- The economic and social costs to the Borough of alcohol related violence are an estimated £8m pa (by contrast, the total cost of criminal damage - vandalism - by young people in the Borough is only £1m pa)

- Drunken/rowdy behaviour in public places is the biggest concern of local residents' worries about crime

Vincent Cable MP said: "The Partnership - reflecting cooperation between the Council and the Police - has done some valuable research. It confirms that we are a very low crime borough but that residents have strong and justified concerns about drunken, anti-social behaviour in town centres.

"The key deterrent is a strong visible police presence on the streets at closing time. I have seen more of that presence recently. It is also important that encouragement is given to good landlords who observe the Code of Conduct we agreed in Twickenham and that the licensing authorities crack down hard by withdrawing licences if drinks establishments are adding to the problem.

"I have long believed that the 'polluter pays principle' should apply and that the social costs of anti-social drinking, currently paid for by the council tax payer, should fall to heavy drinkers through a supplementary charge to the drinks licence."