Council leader backs 'drunk tanks' plan (From Daily Echo)

Jeez, I remember when I was a nipper (not all that long ago!) it was frowned upon to be steaming drunk, now it seems to be a badge of honour.

Thing is under Human Rights law these "drunk tanks" will have to end up being fitted with all the mod cons, playstation 3, pool table, comfortable beds, drinks and food. Will end up being like an after hours lock in with free hotel.
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Makes me think of the Pogues song too. It was Christmas eve....

Hold on a minute, Police can ALREADY haul drunks off the street, lock them in a cell all night and dump them on the street when they sober up. They can actually charge them too, it is an arrestable offence under S12 Licencing Act 1872 as amended. And they do in fact to do so- although quite often they release them without charge. Cameron is suggesting absolutely nothing new.

This is nothing more than a gimmick suggested by a sound-bite politician anxious to secure his own future whilst at the same time doing absolutely nothing and committing his government to no course of action.

Goldenwight wrote:
Hold on a minute, Police can ALREADY haul drunks off the street, lock them in a cell all night and dump them on the street when they sober up. They can actually charge them too, it is an arrestable offence under S12 Licencing Act 1872 as amended. And they do in fact to do so- although quite often they release them without charge. Cameron is suggesting absolutely nothing new.

This is nothing more than a gimmick suggested by a sound-bite politician anxious to secure his own future whilst at the same time doing absolutely nothing and committing his government to no course of action.

Hold on a minute, this has been implemented successfully in the US & it could potentially save the NHS £2.7 billion pounds. Did you read that bit or skipped right to the comments to have a pop!

Need to be a massive tank - have you seen the size of some of the punters on the booze in town - it is like a hovercraft convention.
I suggest they use the old Tyrell & Green building and just reinforce the upper floors.

... And the old nodding dog completely agrees with it.
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Why not use existing laws first to clean up the streets.
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Did Dodgy Dave mention when the minimum price per unit was coming in .. or is he going to have a failed Summit with the drinks companies and supermarkets first

For once in a while I find myself agreeing completely.

People also need to think about the welfare of a very drunk person. And where is the proof scooping people off the street without knowing if they don't have an underlying disability, and shove them in somewhere without supervision. This is why the ICE bus is a better idea, because they get medical attention and are supervised if they need it.

What this government fails to understand, is that legislation and short term 'Camm'ciks' won't work, it will take decades to mend this culture - there is no 'overnight' fix.

That's not to say I don't have sympathy with the residents a close family member moved out of Bedford Place after enduring the years of noise, anti-social behaviour but this is down to student ghettoing and HMO licencing and bad planning decisions as well as a lack of foresight by the universities in the town. But I have more sympathy with the staff in hospitals who have to deal with the fallout. More things like the ICE bus are needed to prevent the drain on the NHS while longer term strategies are planned and implemented to deal with this 'culture'.

Nationally, the cut price alcohol in supermarkets is also to blame and happy hours etc, the trouble is that if they stop it, it punishes the rest of us who happen to like a drink but don't get trolleyed and into trouble!

Shoong wrote:

Goldenwight wrote: Hold on a minute, Police can ALREADY haul drunks off the street, lock them in a cell all night and dump them on the street when they sober up. They can actually charge them too, it is an arrestable offence under S12 Licencing Act 1872 as amended. And they do in fact to do so- although quite often they release them without charge. Cameron is suggesting absolutely nothing new. This is nothing more than a gimmick suggested by a sound-bite politician anxious to secure his own future whilst at the same time doing absolutely nothing and committing his government to no course of action.

Hold on a minute, this has been implemented successfully in the US & it could potentially save the NHS £2.7 billion pounds. Did you read that bit or skipped right to the comments to have a pop!

Which part of my post did you not read- the police already have this power. We are talking about nothing new here. We have been doing this for over 140 years under the current legislation.

"It was part of a Government move to tackle a £2.7 billion NHS bill created by alcohol abuse and public drunkenness." This DOES NOT say that introducing drunk tanks will 'potentially save the NHS £2.7 billion pounds.' Far from it. Perhaps you should have read the article fully before suggesting that I hadn't? And next time, it mightn't be a bad idea to actually read the post you are commenting on either?

Shoong wrote:

Goldenwight wrote:
Hold on a minute, Police can ALREADY haul drunks off the street, lock them in a cell all night and dump them on the street when they sober up. They can actually charge them too, it is an arrestable offence under S12 Licencing Act 1872 as amended. And they do in fact to do so- although quite often they release them without charge. Cameron is suggesting absolutely nothing new.

This is nothing more than a gimmick suggested by a sound-bite politician anxious to secure his own future whilst at the same time doing absolutely nothing and committing his government to no course of action.

Hold on a minute, this has been implemented successfully in the US & it could potentially save the NHS £2.7 billion pounds. Did you read that bit or skipped right to the comments to have a pop!

Yep! Put them in the slammer to save the NHS some money.

So the drunk chokes on their own vomit whilst in the tender care of our boys in blue.

No charge to the NHS, but the Police are sued for a damned sight more than has been saved on the NHS budget.

Another excellent idea from Dodgy Dave.

These drunk tanks are intended for those who are intoxicated, which I interpret as legless.

I assumed Licensing Laws prevented any on-Licence premises allowing an intoxicated person to consume alcohol on their premises. Much like an Off-Licence cannot sell to a drunk.

Maybe the Councils Licensing could start looking at those who are selling the alcohol which allows people to get into this state in the first place. Maybe, just maybe we wouldn't need drunk tanks other than for those who sit in the park drinking their Tennants Super!

Oh hang on the tax on alcohol is too high!

elvisimo wrote:
Need to be a massive tank - have you seen the size of some of the punters on the booze in town - it is like a hovercraft convention. I suggest they use the old Tyrell & Green building and just reinforce the upper floors.

The Tyrell and Green building was demolished and a green space created in its place; the surrounding buildings were reinforced. When weree you last in Southampton?

Donald2000 wrote:

elvisimo wrote:
Need to be a massive tank - have you seen the size of some of the punters on the booze in town - it is like a hovercraft convention. I suggest they use the old Tyrell & Green building and just reinforce the upper floors.

The Tyrell and Green building was demolished and a green space created in its place; the surrounding buildings were reinforced. When weree you last in Southampton?

Blimey, that was some time back too!

Goldenwight wrote:
Hold on a minute, Police can ALREADY haul drunks off the street, lock them in a cell all night and dump them on the street when they sober up. They can actually charge them too, it is an arrestable offence under S12 Licencing Act 1872 as amended. And they do in fact to do so- although quite often they release them without charge. Cameron is suggesting absolutely nothing new. This is nothing more than a gimmick suggested by a sound-bite politician anxious to secure his own future whilst at the same time doing absolutely nothing and committing his government to no course of action.

Indeed. I think we all know that politicians are about as much in touch with reality as a bad egg. Thats because they probably all live in Chilworth millionaire's row; that way they dont have to come into contact with nasty little drinkers and dole scroungers, dont you know. Anyone for champers old bean?

So a minimum price per unit of alcohol!? Can someone tell me who benefits from the additional profit made by artificially increasing the price presumably through increased margins?
And as someone who drinks sensibly and infrequently, which, I suspect the vast majority do, why should we be penalised by the actions of a minority?
If anyone should be penalised it should surely be the people whose behaviour is giving rise to this debate, not the innocent and unheard majority!!

Rather than drunk tanks, would it not be wiser to use the resources to spend time in venues and start fining the Public Houses for every drunk they find on the premises.

When I say drunk, I mean intoxicated as it's illegal to allow someone intoxicated on Licensed premises.

This way we fix at source before it spills onto the streets.

Family Man wrote:
So a minimum price per unit of alcohol!? Can someone tell me who benefits from the additional profit made by artificially increasing the price presumably through increased margins? And as someone who drinks sensibly and infrequently, which, I suspect the vast majority do, why should we be penalised by the actions of a minority? If anyone should be penalised it should surely be the people whose behaviour is giving rise to this debate, not the innocent and unheard majority!!

They dont get penalised though; they get eulogised and are the stuff of which newspapers are sold. Didn't you know, the vast innocent majority are of no interest to newspaper proprieters and media moguls. They are only interested in spoiled little brats who have more money than sense and who want to go and make a spectacle of themselves on our streets on a Thursday nights. The rest of us, who have to clear it up, including treating them in hospitals, can take a running jump.

IronLady2010 wrote:
Rather than drunk tanks, would it not be wiser to use the resources to spend time in venues and start fining the Public Houses for every drunk they find on the premises.

When I say drunk, I mean intoxicated as it's illegal to allow someone intoxicated on Licensed premises.

This way we fix at source before it spills onto the streets.

Currently the only powers the Police have is to report a venue to the Council where trouble constantly happens outside, this takes months to sort out!

Why not sort IN the venue and stop it spilling outside?

IronLady2010 wrote:

IronLady2010 wrote: Rather than drunk tanks, would it not be wiser to use the resources to spend time in venues and start fining the Public Houses for every drunk they find on the premises. When I say drunk, I mean intoxicated as it's illegal to allow someone intoxicated on Licensed premises. This way we fix at source before it spills onto the streets.

Currently the only powers the Police have is to report a venue to the Council where trouble constantly happens outside, this takes months to sort out! Why not sort IN the venue and stop it spilling outside?

Oh I have a much better idea than that. Just close the pubs down; that would save the NHS billions of £. No pubs, no drunken idiots on the streets. A modern answer for a modern problem. Simples.

Donald2000 wrote:

IronLady2010 wrote:

IronLady2010 wrote: Rather than drunk tanks, would it not be wiser to use the resources to spend time in venues and start fining the Public Houses for every drunk they find on the premises. When I say drunk, I mean intoxicated as it's illegal to allow someone intoxicated on Licensed premises. This way we fix at source before it spills onto the streets.

Currently the only powers the Police have is to report a venue to the Council where trouble constantly happens outside, this takes months to sort out! Why not sort IN the venue and stop it spilling outside?

Oh I have a much better idea than that. Just close the pubs down; that would save the NHS billions of £. No pubs, no drunken idiots on the streets. A modern answer for a modern problem. Simples.

What about those who ARE responsible and want a social drink with friends?

Not everyone goes out 'to get off their face'. x

The sensible option would be to go back to how it used to be:
Higher prices on drinks
Alchol only served in shops until 10pm
or before 12 on sundays.

Booze is to readily available and at stupidly low prices....

maybe they should start to charge for treatment by the NHS when you are drunk.....

nickskyman wrote:
The sensible option would be to go back to how it used to be:
Higher prices on drinks
Alchol only served in shops until 10pm
or before 12 on sundays.

Booze is to readily available and at stupidly low prices....

That won't solve anything? Kids will just go out earlier and drink shots.

Have you tried that aftershock stuff, blimey! It tastes vile!

IronLady2010 wrote:

Donald2000 wrote:

IronLady2010 wrote:

IronLady2010 wrote: Rather than drunk tanks, would it not be wiser to use the resources to spend time in venues and start fining the Public Houses for every drunk they find on the premises. When I say drunk, I mean intoxicated as it's illegal to allow someone intoxicated on Licensed premises. This way we fix at source before it spills onto the streets.

Currently the only powers the Police have is to report a venue to the Council where trouble constantly happens outside, this takes months to sort out! Why not sort IN the venue and stop it spilling outside?

Oh I have a much better idea than that. Just close the pubs down; that would save the NHS billions of £. No pubs, no drunken idiots on the streets. A modern answer for a modern problem. Simples.

What about those who ARE responsible and want a social drink with friends? Not everyone goes out 'to get off their face'. x

What about those who are responsible? I have already said they dont count because the whole system is spoiled by idiots who dont want YOU to have anything. Thats why we must close all the pubs, unless you as a decent person want to do something to change society to get rid of drunks. No, I thought not. Wailing that you are responsible wont get rid of those who are irresponsible. Getting rid of pubs will do exactly that and thats why I commend that solution. Unless you think that we should be ruled by drunks and that we should have a version of drunk democracy. Personally getting rid of clubs and pubs would solve a lot of these problems. Freedom at any price? Whats your real solution to it?

We never seemed to have such problems when pubs closed in the afternoons as did the old off licences. All day drinking has not had the desired effect, instead it's made matters worse.

Sorry but am I being extremely thick?
Haven't our glorious, envy of the world British Government raped our British Police Forces left right and Chelsea! Now they expect them to pick up the pieces after people get stupidly drunk and end up in A&E. Get back in the room Mr Cameron. Sort out licensing and fine the venues if they do not comply.
I am going to make you laugh now. How's about putting more money into the Police so they can do the job properly rather than rely on good will !!!

West Ender wrote:
Sorry but am I being extremely thick?
Haven't our glorious, envy of the world British Government raped our British Police Forces left right and Chelsea! Now they expect them to pick up the pieces after people get stupidly drunk and end up in A&E. Get back in the room Mr Cameron. Sort out licensing and fine the venues if they do not comply.
I am going to make you laugh now. How's about putting more money into the Police so they can do the job properly rather than rely on good will !!!

Putting more money into the Police won't help, they're just picking up the trash. Until it's tackled at source we'll be running round in circles!

West Ender wrote:
Sorry but am I being extremely thick? Haven't our glorious, envy of the world British Government raped our British Police Forces left right and Chelsea! Now they expect them to pick up the pieces after people get stupidly drunk and end up in A&E. Get back in the room Mr Cameron. Sort out licensing and fine the venues if they do not comply. I am going to make you laugh now. How's about putting more money into the Police so they can do the job properly rather than rely on good will !!!

Yes but the police should not have to deal withg drunks; thats a social issue. Close pubs and clubs and let the police concentrate on real crime. Being off your face is not a real crime; it just illustrates that we are an immature society which cant tolerate having pubs and clubs and alcohol. Thats a sociological rather than a justice issue. Since when were the police ninny nannying social workers? Having the availability of booze which we do just creates problems. Either close the pubs or make the breweries responsible for the drunks by taxing the breweries commensurately to build the appropriate hospitals and hire the appropriate increase in the constabulary. Personally I would just close the breweries, pubs and clubs down and save the money for real crime and real illness. A non-brainer really.

IronLady2010 wrote:

West Ender wrote:
Sorry but am I being extremely thick?
Haven't our glorious, envy of the world British Government raped our British Police Forces left right and Chelsea! Now they expect them to pick up the pieces after people get stupidly drunk and end up in A&E. Get back in the room Mr Cameron. Sort out licensing and fine the venues if they do not comply.
I am going to make you laugh now. How's about putting more money into the Police so they can do the job properly rather than rely on good will !!!

Putting more money into the Police won't help, they're just picking up the trash. Until it's tackled at source we'll be running round in circles!

I agree. It needs to be tackled at source. Junk in London Rd for example. Doesn't close until 5 on a Sunday morning. Just ridiculous !

IronLady2010 wrote:
Rather than drunk tanks, would it not be wiser to use the resources to spend time in venues and start fining the Public Houses for every drunk they find on the premises. When I say drunk, I mean intoxicated as it's illegal to allow someone intoxicated on Licensed premises. This way we fix at source before it spills onto the streets.

And while we're at it, let's fine restaurants for every overweight person they serve.

Huffter wrote:

IronLady2010 wrote:
Rather than drunk tanks, would it not be wiser to use the resources to spend time in venues and start fining the Public Houses for every drunk they find on the premises. When I say drunk, I mean intoxicated as it's illegal to allow someone intoxicated on Licensed premises. This way we fix at source before it spills onto the streets.

And while we're at it, let's fine restaurants for every overweight person they serve.

LOL, now that's a fantastic idea!!!!!!

Charge fatties a fat tax! ;-)

IronLady2010 wrote:

Huffter wrote:

IronLady2010 wrote:
Rather than drunk tanks, would it not be wiser to use the resources to spend time in venues and start fining the Public Houses for every drunk they find on the premises. When I say drunk, I mean intoxicated as it's illegal to allow someone intoxicated on Licensed premises. This way we fix at source before it spills onto the streets.

And while we're at it, let's fine restaurants for every overweight person they serve.

LOL, now that's a fantastic idea!!!!!!

Charge fatties a fat tax! ;-)

But seriously, don't forget the issued Licence states they cannot allow intoxicated persons on the premises, unless the Law has changed!

This is why so many venues are being shut down, as they are serving drunk people and allowing them to spill out onto the streets causing trouble.

The only reason they are being shut is the Police are fed up with responding to a particular venue, eventually they're closed. So why not hit them at source, no need to close them if you impose fines on the spot. They'll soon learn when it hits the profit!

Awwwwww, well I got my drank on already.....yaaaaaaa
y, a bed for the night, bwahahahahaha ;)

http://www.youtube.c
om/watch?v=1_E6yGkHx
yM

Linesman wrote:

Shoong wrote:

Goldenwight wrote: Hold on a minute, Police can ALREADY haul drunks off the street, lock them in a cell all night and dump them on the street when they sober up. They can actually charge them too, it is an arrestable offence under S12 Licencing Act 1872 as amended. And they do in fact to do so- although quite often they release them without charge. Cameron is suggesting absolutely nothing new. This is nothing more than a gimmick suggested by a sound-bite politician anxious to secure his own future whilst at the same time doing absolutely nothing and committing his government to no course of action.

Hold on a minute, this has been implemented successfully in the US & it could potentially save the NHS £2.7 billion pounds. Did you read that bit or skipped right to the comments to have a pop!

Yep! Put them in the slammer to save the NHS some money. So the drunk chokes on their own vomit whilst in the tender care of our boys in blue. No charge to the NHS, but the Police are sued for a damned sight more than has been saved on the NHS budget. Another excellent idea from Dodgy Dave.

Ah, but if you have shackles chained to the ceiling and hang them upside down by their ankles, they can't choke themselves.....

And I personally think a large cage in the centre of town should do the trick.....

Shoong wrote:

Goldenwight wrote:
Hold on a minute, Police can ALREADY haul drunks off the street, lock them in a cell all night and dump them on the street when they sober up. They can actually charge them too, it is an arrestable offence under S12 Licencing Act 1872 as amended. And they do in fact to do so- although quite often they release them without charge. Cameron is suggesting absolutely nothing new.

This is nothing more than a gimmick suggested by a sound-bite politician anxious to secure his own future whilst at the same time doing absolutely nothing and committing his government to no course of action.

Hold on a minute, this has been implemented successfully in the US & it could potentially save the NHS £2.7 billion pounds. Did you read that bit or skipped right to the comments to have a pop!

He's right there is all ready laws in this country about being drunk on the streets.
I wonder how much its going to cost the tax payers in cups of teas and Breakfasts in the morning.

southy wrote:

Shoong wrote:

Goldenwight wrote:
Hold on a minute, Police can ALREADY haul drunks off the street, lock them in a cell all night and dump them on the street when they sober up. They can actually charge them too, it is an arrestable offence under S12 Licencing Act 1872 as amended. And they do in fact to do so- although quite often they release them without charge. Cameron is suggesting absolutely nothing new.

This is nothing more than a gimmick suggested by a sound-bite politician anxious to secure his own future whilst at the same time doing absolutely nothing and committing his government to no course of action.

Hold on a minute, this has been implemented successfully in the US & it could potentially save the NHS £2.7 billion pounds. Did you read that bit or skipped right to the comments to have a pop!

He's right there is all ready laws in this country about being drunk on the streets.
I wonder how much its going to cost the tax payers in cups of teas and Breakfasts in the morning.

What's TUSC solution Southy?

Google must be on over-drive Southy?

IronLady2010 wrote:
Rather than drunk tanks, would it not be wiser to use the resources to spend time in venues and start fining the Public Houses for every drunk they find on the premises.

When I say drunk, I mean intoxicated as it's illegal to allow someone intoxicated on Licensed premises.

This way we fix at source before it spills onto the streets.

Ironlady, you are so deep sometimes :))))

But yes I agree with you....;)

What I want to know is that the Government want to stop Binge drinking.....I have never seen Binge on sale...............

What I want to know is that the Government want to stop Binge drinking.....I have never seen Binge on sale...............

We all have a 'smart card'. Present at the bar, off sales, restaurant etc. If you have purchased too much alcohol in 24 hours as defined by recommended units then you cannot make a purchase. The card will be reset every 24 hours from the first purchase made. Make sense? I think so!

Oh and p.s.
No card = No purchase

Goldenwight wrote:

Shoong wrote:

Goldenwight wrote: Hold on a minute, Police can ALREADY haul drunks off the street, lock them in a cell all night and dump them on the street when they sober up. They can actually charge them too, it is an arrestable offence under S12 Licencing Act 1872 as amended. And they do in fact to do so- although quite often they release them without charge. Cameron is suggesting absolutely nothing new. This is nothing more than a gimmick suggested by a sound-bite politician anxious to secure his own future whilst at the same time doing absolutely nothing and committing his government to no course of action.

Hold on a minute, this has been implemented successfully in the US & it could potentially save the NHS £2.7 billion pounds. Did you read that bit or skipped right to the comments to have a pop!

Which part of my post did you not read- the police already have this power. We are talking about nothing new here. We have been doing this for over 140 years under the current legislation.

"It was part of a Government move to tackle a £2.7 billion NHS bill created by alcohol abuse and public drunkenness." This DOES NOT say that introducing drunk tanks will 'potentially save the NHS £2.7 billion pounds.' Far from it. Perhaps you should have read the article fully before suggesting that I hadn't? And next time, it mightn't be a bad idea to actually read the post you are commenting on either?

You are right these laws already exist, but do police have enough officers around to apply those, and to make the bad situation worse ConDem Coalition is reducing number of officers
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Even if there was no shortage of officers, then are there enough suitable facilities for detaining drunks? Is ConDem Coalition going to pay for creating suitable facilities while at the same time committed to massive cuts?
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Cameron and his colleagues are not interested in solving problems, Blue Blair and his opportunist mates are only interested in cheap publicity, and their fans on this site are here ONLY to to defend their master's voice. They never let the facts get in their way

bazzeroz wrote:
We all have a 'smart card'. Present at the bar, off sales, restaurant etc. If you have purchased too much alcohol in 24 hours as defined by recommended units then you cannot make a purchase. The card will be reset every 24 hours from the first purchase made. Make sense? I think so!

I don't.

bazzeroz wrote:
We all have a 'smart card'. Present at the bar, off sales, restaurant etc. If you have purchased too much alcohol in 24 hours as defined by recommended units then you cannot make a purchase. The card will be reset every 24 hours from the first purchase made. Make sense? I think so!

What world do you live in!

The experiment to relax licencing laws, which was raised in hope to give more time and resource to cope with the problematic minority, clearly hasn't worked.

Agree with many of the above comments, that it is a sociological issue - take a look at Holland, they have much more progressive laws in these directions, but still manage to have a reasonable level of control.

I'm not sure what the next step should be regarding the matter, but I certainly don't want us going backwards or lining the tax man's pocket with even more - over 2/3s of the price of alcohol already goes to HMRC.

One of the few industries in the UK that is growing is in real ale brewing, which for most moderate drinkers is a good thing to see, my fear is that (re)introducing draconian laws will kill off such entrepreneurism...