Naming and shaming in Wales

A scheme to name and shame pubs and nightclubs where violence tends to occur is being piloted in Cardiff.

The Chief Constable of South Wales, Anthony Burden, said that the police now "have got professionals in the health field willing to contribute information which has not been available to us before." The staff of Accident and Emergency departments record the location of assaults requiring treatment. From this information, tables are drawn up to indicate the high-risk drinking spots, the names of which are made available to the local media. "For the first time," said Mr Burden, "we are getting a true picture of the size of the problem and a reflection of the premises involved."

The police are confident that the information provided by the tables will allow them to use their resources more effectively and, at the same time, improve the standards of those premises where violence is a regular feature. Acting Superintendent Graham Lloyd said that "any pub or club that is identified as having a large number of assaults occurring either within the premises or outside - and where evidence indicates that alcohol or the clientele are a contributing factor - that pub or club is then targeted accordingly. Should licensees or managers not assist after being presented with the relevant research, then other action is taken, this will take the form ultimately of an objection to their liquor licence."

This is similar to the successful strategy recently adopted by the police in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, which consisted simply of identifying those places where crimes were most often committed and giving the staff in the bars and clubs appropriate training. As a result assaults involving alcohol have gone down by 15 per cent and malicious damage by 36 per cent during the course of the last year. Police say that they have had to spend 300 fewer hours in investigating incidents in and around licensed premises. A senior officer in New South Wales said that it was a good example of successful co-operation between police and licensees.

In old South Wales, the Brewers' and Licensed Retailers' Association have reacted hostilely to the scheme. A spokesman for the organisation said that there was a danger of uncorroborated evidence of victims being used when this could arise from resentments or commercial rivalry. An essential part of the Australian experience has been the co-operation between police and licensees and the training on offer. These elements are important, not only to avoid any negative effects of "naming and shaming", but to ensure the positive results of a drop in alcohol-related crime and violence.

The scheme being piloted in Cardiff is also under consideration by the police in Central London.