Give It Some!

If you enjoy a bit of bovver after the boozer, then the UK is the place for you. Leave your pot and your peace pipe at home and get out and give some aggro. The streets are safer for you: policing is down and the priority is low.

This is the Government position:

"Enforcement of legislation on drunk and disorderly behaviour has dropped sharply over the last 10 years. This reflects not only falling priority but also, crucially, the sheer practicalities of policing large numbers of drunk people. Arresting some one for drunk and disorderly behaviour and taking them to the custody suite can take two hours or more – during which the officer is effectively off the streets."

From a March 2005 report from the Institute of Alcohol Studies, titled 'Alcohol-related Crime and Disorder'.

"Alcohol-related crime and drunken offenders place a huge burden on the police and other public services:

- from approximately 10.30pm to 3.00am the majority of arrests are for alcohol-related offences

- there is the potential for routine incidents of public nuisance to escalate to more serious, especially violent, offences

- dealing with intoxicated offenders can be difficult and time consuming. For example, they may have to be kept in cells long enough to sober up; while they are there the police have a duty of care and have to ensure the offender does not come to harm by choking on their own vomit. The offender may have to be checked every 15 minutes. Medical attention may be necessary. Female offenders need female police officers to attend certain procedures who may have to be taken off other duties.

- intoxicated prisoners can be disruptive, uncooperative and may present severe hygiene problems, urinating or defecating in their clothing during or after arrest."