by TheJusticeofthePeace @ 16.
Oct. 2010. – 14:32:47
A topic common to the many who comment on the state of disorder on our streets and elsewhere is the easy availability of alcohol to children. It has been blogged here as recently as July 14th. One would have thought that with a maximum fine of £5,000 for under age sales available under s146 Licensing Act 2003 offenders, particularly persistent offenders, would be deterred from the practice. One would have thought wrongly.
In England and Wales in 2008 there was a total of 326 fines imposed. The Criminal Justice Areas with the highest and lowest numbers of fines imposed were, respectively, the Metropolitan Area 59 and Cambridge, Devon & Cornwall, Humberside and Warwickshire with zero. Indeed it is not since 2006 when a grand total of four was fined that a retailer in Devon & Cornwall has been fined for this offence. I had not been aware that Peterborough, Penzance, Hull or Dudley were towns where the under eighteens were on the wagon. To add insult to injury the maximum and minimum fines imposed in 2008 were Cheshire £1,050 [seven offenders in total for 2008] and £152 in Lancashire [twenty two fines imposed] . Only when retailers` pockets feel the loss of many thousands of pounds for this offence will the situation change. I believe Theresa May has hinted as much.
These figures have been extrapolated from a parliamentary answer on June 17th by James Brokenshire (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Home Office; Old Bexley and Sidcup, Conservative). I rest my case.
No comments:
Post a Comment