| Police chiefs pledged to strictly enforce drinking bye-laws, insisting they could lead to a dramatic reduction in vandalism, violent crime and general disorder.
Making sure law-abiding members of the public feel safe and do not regard certain locations as no-go areas will be a major priority.
The campaign — which features posters highlighting the ban on drinking in Perthshire’s designated public places — was launched at the City Nightclub in Perth.
It forms part of the latest phase in the national Safer Scotland campaign which aims to tackle the detrimental effect that alcohol misuse can have on individuals, families and communities. The new posters, which remind pub and club goers of the drinking bye-laws, will be displayed in Kinross, Milnathort, Crieff, Blairgowrie and Perth city centre.
Chief Superintendent Matt Hamilton, divisional commander in Perth and Kinross, said alcohol-free zones would be enforced by regular patrols and joint working with the licensed trade.
“In our society alcohol plays a part in many people’s lives, ranging from socialising and being a gesture of hospitality through to celebrating important events,” he said.
“The vast majority of people who drink are law-abiding members of the community.
“However, we all have experience of serious incidents fuelled by alcohol and must appreciate that the abuse of alcohol is a major problem in our society.”
Chief superintendent Hamilton highlighted the adverse effect public drinking can have on children.
“Apart from health considerations, alcohol can be linked to other anti-social behaviour such as vandalism and disorder,” he said.
“Alcohol-related crime and disorder, its effects on public safety and the harmful effects of alcohol on children and young people are of particular concern to Tayside Police and our partner agencies.
“The public drinking bye-laws provide an effective response to the problems associated with the anti-social consumption of alcohol in public places,” the chief superintendent continued.
“Not only does this often include under-age consumption of alcohol, it can also generate problems of crime, disorder and social nuisance which impact on others’ quality of life.”
The reduction of crime is an obvious aim of the poster campaign.
“Alcohol misuse contributes significantly to crime levels through alcohol-specific offences such as being drunk and disorderly in public,” chief superintendent Hamilton said. |
