THE council is attempting to tackle boozed-up crime in the city by enforcing an Early Morning Restriction Order (EMRO) across late night alcohol-related crime hot spots.
The Village remains the highest ranked out of 67 North Manchester districts for instances of theft and assault. Twice as high as the second ranking district of Arndale and King Street.
Primarily the move is to target problems in the city’s Gay Village, which had 1,316 individual police call-outs in 2012, compared with 675 at the Printworks and 527 on Deansgate Locks.
If the move is successful however, there’s nothing to stop the council enforcing EMROs across other areas of the city.
Few too many. A typical scene from drunken Britain.
But what exactly is an EMRO?
The EMRO is an uncommenced power in the Licensing Act of 2003 that enables local authorities to halt alcohol sales in the whole or part of an area of nightlife for any specified period between midnight and 6am.
In short, the council could shut down all venues in an area where they see fit, regardless of current individual licensing hours.
Haydn Pope, Chair of Manchester’s Pub and Club Network and MD of Village club AXM is livid, recently saying: “The council seem very keen to lay the blame for any and all issues on the premises and venues directly.
“Several years ago all the venues within the Village tackled and tasked the council to assist us in reducing crime and anti-social behaviour by clamping down and reducing the huge plethora of takeaway and taxi firms that operate on and around Bloom Street.
A more serene Canal Street
“The venues also asked for further CCTV coverage and lighting on the streets and blind spots within the area, so as to dramatically reduce the potential for violent crime, drug dealing and hugger-muggers.
“And has the council, who state how very concerned they are about the area, implemented or acted upon any of the above? Nope, not one.”
In recent years, the increase in late night licences and cheap drink offers around the Village has acted as a magnet for drinkers vacating other areas of the city. Twenty-one venues within the Village are currently licensed to remain open beyond 4am, with nine venues able to stay open beyond 7am.
This congregation of revellers into the area, most of whom have already had a fair amount to drink, has in turn lead to issues relating to alcohol-induced violence and crime.
A Community Scrutiny Committee report stated that although the area has seen a decrease in all recorded crime of 15.4 per cent between 2011/12 and 2012/13, this fell in line with similar decreases in crime-rates across the city centre.
The Village remains the highest ranked out of 67 North Manchester districts for instances of theft and assault. Twice as high as the second ranking district of Arndale and King Street - which are retail areas.
GMP cars
The density of violent offences in the area was 1,422 crimes per square km during 2012/13, the next highest being Piccadilly Gardens with a rate of 913 crimes per square km.
The committee concludes that whilst an influx of hen and stag parties have certainly had an impact, ‘the more significant issue is the concentration of late night premises which provide alcohol for people leaving other parts of the city centre after they have closed.’
More booze available later equals more crime.
Councillor Nigel Murphy, Manchester City Council's executive member for the environment, said: "Greater Manchester Police have asked us to consider introducing an Early Morning Restriction Order in the Gay Village which, if introduced, would mean licensed premises would not be able to serve alcohol after a designated time.
"We have asked the police to provide detailed evidence to demonstrate whether an EMRO is necessary, before we consider how to proceed. Should an EMRO be proposed, we would carry out a formal consultation with licensees and members of the public before any final decision was taken.
"However, in the meantime, we welcome any views on this from members of the city centre's bar and club trade and from the public."
But couldn’t the enforcement of an EMRO cause yet more problems?
A blanket kick-out time would force everyone out on to the street at the same time, inciting trouble rather than quelling it. And wouldn’t an area specific EMRO just displace the problem? Moving the troublemakers on elsewhere.
Quite clearly something needs to be done. The pinching and punching just wont do. So what is the solution?
We all know more feet on the beat is not economically viable. So maybe a marauding gang of vigilantes, or even a Charles Bronson type character from the Death Wish films, patrolling the streets slaying would-be crims is an option?
Seriously though, an EMRO is only one route. There is another called a a Late Night Levy (a tax on late night operators in relation to the extra strain on public services). This no doubt would go down like a brick sandwich. And given the implications for the economy a move we imagine the council would not dare to touch with a bargepole the length of Beetham Tower.
But an EMRO is not by any means an instant fix.
Perhaps the aggressively competitive nature of the area needs to be addressed. Given many Village venues compete with each other by offering discounted drinks - there are double spirits for under £2 in some places - maybe they're asking for it?
You can sign a petition to halt the EMRO here.
Discuss the issue on the 'Should the Gay Village have an EMRO' facebook group
