Chief Constable Gary Roberts has today praised the Isle of Man’s licensing trade
for its ongoing vigilance in maintaining high standards, investing in staff training and continuing to develop an effective working relationship with the Isle of Man Constabulary.
His comments were made during a report delivered at the beginning of the triennial sessions of the Licensing Court at the Isle of Man Courts of Justice in Douglas.
Acknowledging the problems in dealing with drunkenness, Chief Constable Roberts rued the decline in officer numbers within the neighbourhood policing teams but highlighted the behind-the-scenes work undertaken by the Alcohol Unit as being particularly effective. He also paid tribute to the role played by trade bodies, such as the Licensed Victuallers’ Association, in setting and maintaining high standards.
Drinking before embarking on a night out, known as pre-loading, was raised as a significant concern in putting people at increased risk, but that investment in training to enable staff to deal with issues around customer safety was delivering results.
Young people are beginning to turn away from alcohol, according to the results of surveys carried out recently, and this news was welcomed by the Chief Constable, who also pointed to a decline in offences linked to drunkenness during each of the past three years as a further sign of optimism.
Looking to the future, Chief Constable Roberts looked forward to examining government’s forthcoming Substance Misuse Strategy – due to be laid before Tynwald in March – which is likely to address the issue of a minimum per unit price for alcohol, and welcomed the forthcoming introduction of a new Licensing Act in modernising and streamlining outdated legislation.
Read the Chief Constable’s speech in full online on the Isle of Man Government website
