Home Secretary targets London party hotspots in crack-down

July 24, 2009

The Home Secretary, Alan Johnson, has announced that the government is launching a crack-down on drink-fueled violence in London’s party hotspots including the West End.

The key areas being targeted in order to make them safer, include the West End and high streets in Kingston, Croydon, Peckham, Camden and Stratford.

The crack-down will include several new measures to prevent fights from breaking out when party-goers have had too much to drink. The intention is to make these areas safer for people who enjoy a night out in London.

* The measures introduced include more high-visibility policing of the areas
* The introduction of marshals to make sure people get into taxis in an orderly way
* Rigorous licensing requiring fast food restaurants to introduce security staff so people can grab something to eat safely at the end of the night

The plan also involves recruiting businesses to join in efforts to improve the reputation of these areas as being more more ‘socially responsible.’

Most acts of violence occur among 13-24 year-olds between midnight and 3am, according to Home Office figures.

The first phase of the plans were successful in reducing incidents between March and July 2009.