Huddersfield MP wants end to late-night drinking

Jan 27 2009 by Neil Atkinson, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

IT’S time to call “Time” on Huddersfield’s late-night drinkers.

That was the call today from the town’s MP Barry Sheerman, who wants an end to drinking all hours.

He is also concerned that more and more takeaways and fast food shops have late-night licences and he is now planning urgent talks with police and with Kirklees Council officers.

Mr Sheerman made his hard-hitting comments days after West Yorkshire’s Chief Constable Sir Norman Bettison revealed that late-night rowdy behaviour is the biggest problem faced by police in Huddersfield.

In a revealing interview, Sir Norman said: “There seems to be a culture of drinking yourself into oblivion. Young people particularly seem determined to go out every weekend and get hammered.

“Women put themselves at risk. There was a case recently where sex had taken place and the woman was unsure as to whether she consented or not.

“In Huddersfield my officers are run ragged until 6am.

“Thirty years ago the streets would be quiet after the last bus had left, but now the streets are always busy. Officers’ 10-hour shifts can be relentless.”