ACS

Commenting on the results of a two week Home Office alcohol confiscation campaign, Shadow Home Secretary, David Davis, said: "A two week crackdown is all very well, but Labour continue to fail to enforce alcohol laws. They talk tough about increasing penalties to tackle drinking in public but in the last three years not a single person has received the current maximum fine of £500 for refusing to surrender alcohol. Even of those fined - nearly 80 per cent have to pay less than £50."

Following the Government’s announcement to increase the maximum fine to £500, the Conservatives requested data on how the existing penalty has been used. For the offence of refusing to surrender alcohol in a public place or refusing a police officer’s instruction to stop drinking the findings show that:

• Not a single person since 2004 has been given a fine of more than £250, meaning the £500 maximum fine is not being used.

• Between 2004 and 2006, 76 per cent of all people given a fine by the courts received a fine of less than £50.

• Just 101 people were prosecuted for this offence in 2006, 73 were found guilty and 59 were fined. These figures are lower than 2004, prior to the implementation of 24 hour licensing laws.

Mr Davis went on to say: “Rather than one off campaigns we need concerted action over the long term to tackle binge drinking and alcohol-related disorder."