County police chief speaks to the Examiner

Jan 8 2009 by Joanne Douglas, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

County police chief speaks to the Examiner

CHEAP drinks promotions and drunken revellers cause problems for police, West Yorkshire’s police chief said today.

Chief Constable Sir Norman Bettison says alcohol-fuelled party-goers run officers ragged while beat bobbies encounter bureaucracy and scrutiny.

But he believes his first two years as chief constable have seen improvements in neighbourhood policing.

He said public confidence was at its height while there were more officers on patrol.

Sir Norman spoke to the Examiner about the major issues in Huddersfield and Kirklees.

He said the 99p pint announced by the Wetherspoons pub chain recently and much criticised was not a problem for police.

“It is the offers and the promotions that I object to; the ones where you can drink as much as you can for £10 or the happy hours where you can have a triple for the price of a single.

“It’s almost as if they are encouraging people to get as much down their necks,” he said.