Caroline Lucas, Green Party general election candidate for Brighton Pavilion, will join a police response unit on a late night tour of the city's streets tonight (Fri 5 March) at 9pm.
Lucas, who is currently MEP for the South East Region including Brighton and Hove, said: "The evening represents an excellent opportunity to gain first hand experience of the kinds of challenges Brighton and Hove police have to deal with, especially at the weekend. Brighton and Hove has great nightlife and fantastic community pubs. But West Street can be chaotic on a Friday night, and residents across the city suffer noise and disturbance every night of the week. I believe licensing regulation in the city is to blame."
"Regulation on licensing continues to be a controversial matter in the city. Brighton has one off license per every 84 households, many believe that this high ratio contributes heavily to the problems of late night noise and drink related violence."
Lucas continued:
"The current government must take responsibility for causing some of these problems. Their Licensing Act of 2003 has not reduced alcohol related problems, including violence, as promised but has contributed largely to the proliferation of off licenses throughout our city. Binge drinking places an unnecessary burden on local police and health services. Excessive alcohol consumption, leads to over 2,000 hospital admissions per year in Brighton and Hove."
"It's clear if we want a healthier, safer city, we need to wise up when it comes to licensing and put the regulation in place that encourages people to drink responsibly."
Councillor Rachel Fryer, who recently proposed a successful council motion on licensing had these further words:
"We know that 50% of all domestic violence is committed under the influence of alcohol. In 2008, Sussex police were called out 44 times a day - 10 times a day in Brighton and Hove alone."
"Green councillors are working closely with Sussex Police to find a solution to the licensing situation."
"Plus, the ease with which under 18's are able to get hold of alcohol (through adults buying alcohol for children) is concerning, especially as recent figures tell us that five children a week, on average, are hospitalized in Brighton and Hove owing to alcohol abuse."
"I've strongly urged the Licensing Committee to look into ways of publicly recognising and rewarding responsible licensees who follow a code of 'best practice', thereby damaging the reputation and commercial viability of irresponsible traders who perpetuate the problems of underage alcohol consumption and drink related violence."