West Yorkshire Chief Constable Sir Norman Bettison calls for police levy on bars

Oct 31 2009 by Sam Casey, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

WEST Yorkshire’s top cop has said pubs and clubs should pick up the tab for the resources needed to police 24-hour drinking.

Sir Norman Bettison, chief constable for West Yorkshire, made the call during a visit to Huddersfield yesterday.

His comments come after a demand by Huddersfield MP Barry Sheerman for an end to round-the-clock boozing.

Bar owners claim such restrictions would decimate Huddersfield’s night-time economy.

Sir Norman stopped short of backing Mr Sheerman’s stance, but said action was needed.

He said: “I’m not calling for a reduction of licensing hours, but 24-hour licensing costs the police an awful lot more in terms of the resources needed to deal with the consequences.

“The town centres now, here in Huddersfield and in other places, are buzzing at four and 5am, so you still need a full police contingent to deal with the results of someone making a commercial profit out of selling alcohol.

“In my view what should happen is that the polluter should pay.

“I think there should be a levy on licences to pay for the policing services simply to mop up after their clientele.”

Sir Norman was in Huddersfield to meet the senior management team responsible for the Kirklees division.