Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the level of demand placed on police forces created by city centres with a high volume of night time economy venues.

The Government is committed to reducing alcohol-related crime. We are focused on establishing effective partnerships between the police, local authorities, local partnership schemes and businesses to take effective action against alcohol-related crime and harms in the night time economy.

Consideration of the possible impact on local levels of crime of a high density of shops selling alcohol is a matter for local licensing authorities. Under section 76 of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, the police and councils have the power to issue a closure notice if there are grounds to believe that the use of a particular premises has resulted or is likely to result in nuisance to members of the public or disorder near the premises.

The Licensing Act includes several powers that a Local Authority may use to manage the night time economy. For example, a licensing authority may complete a cumulative impact assessment to help it to limit licences granted in areas where there is evidence to show that the number or density of licensed premises in the area may be contributing to problems that are undermining licensing objectives.

There is also the option to consult on introducing a late night levy - this is an optional power used at the discretion of the local authority, to collect a financial contribution from businesses that profit from selling alcohol late at night, with the funds raised to be used for late night policing and other costs associated with the night time economy.