AARP initiative targets alcohol related crime

Alcohol Arrest Referral Projects (AARP) will be piloted in four areas across the UK in an attempt to combat the problem of binge drinking.

The Home Office has provided £330,000 of funding to drug and alcohol action teams in Manchester, Liverpool, Cheshire and Ealing.

An alcohol referral process begins when an adult who has been drinking, commits criminal damage and is arrested and taken into custody. If police judge that alcohol played a part in the person offending, and that they might benefit from counselling about safer drinking, a resident alcohol specialist would give the person advice. Where similar schemes have operated in Gloucestershire and Dudley, police have reported significant reductions in re-offending.

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said: “We are determined to break the link between drunkenness and anti-social behaviour. These pilots will complement powers already available to the police to tackle alcohol related disorder, including on-the-spot fines, confiscating alcohol in public places and closing down premises that flout the law.”

Deputy Assistant Commisioner Chris Allison of ACPO, said: “We hope that giving advice about safer drinking to those arrested for different types of alcohol related offences will help to reduce crime in the pilot areas.”