Labour's policy on 24-hour drinking has proved a serious mistake, the former head of the Met said last night.Hoping to curry favour with the incoming government, are we, ‘Sir’ Ian?
He claimed ministers had ignored warnings that a licensing free-for-all would cause mayhem.Funny. I don’t recall that ever being offered as a reason not to force smokers outside…
'The decision to alter the licensing laws in the way they were altered, together with the planning laws, was a serious mistake,' he said.
'The concentration of drinking establishments in city centres has produced a pretty unpleasant atmosphere for almost everybody.
'The idea we were going to turn into some Italian piazza, sipping wine population, I do not think is going to happen.
'Whoever was suggesting it might not have noticed a winter like ours makes cafes pretty uncomfortable places outside.'
Sir Ian, who stood down as Metropolitan Police Commissioner in December 2008, said he had expressed concerns about the policy to politicians only to be told they were going to go ahead regardless.That can’t have come as a shock to him. And if he’d felt that strongly about it, why did he not offer his resignation, on principle…
Ah. Right. He doesn’t have any principles:
He has previously said that no one has a 'human right' to go drinking in the early hours.Do they have a human right to ride the Tube without getting mistaken for a bomber, slaughtered like a dog, then have their immediate actions lied about to the media?
Probably not. So I don’t think we’ll listen to your opinions on human rights with much interest…
Yesterday he told Radio 4's Today programme: 'We have to go back and think about it again.That’s the only way, is it? Nothing else?
'The city centres need to be recovered and they are only going to be recovered if you reduce the number of large establishments selling alcohol.'
Well, it’s clear you’ve researched this very hard and…
Oh, I give up. Why does anyone give this fool a platform?
9 comments:
"Why does anyone give this fool a platform? "
Errr....
"The city centres need to be recovered and they are only going to be recovered if you reduce the number of large establishments selling alcohol."
Try telling that to Norwich City Council who are planning to close one of the main thoroughfares out of the city centre, to make life safer for the piss-heads staggering out of the clubs at 2 am.
What about the over taxed motorists who pay to use the bloody road???
He has previously said that no one has a 'human right' to go drinking in the early hours.
No. An adult has the right, human or otherwise, to do as he damn-well pleases, whenever he damn-well pleases... Just as long as he doesn't do harm to anyone else in the process.
(Naturally, "he" in this instance implies "she" in all circumstances) :-)
"...slaughtered like a dog"
You're kidding!
If they had slaughtered a dog like that, Commissioner Blair and AC Troilus Twat would have been hounded by the RSPCA and got more than a slight tug on the leash.
It is not the number of drinking places, drinking hours or price of alcoholic drinks that is the problem. It is the number of piss heads who if stamped on at the first sign of anti-social behaviour would get the message and learn to act properly and responsibly.
Julia, I know the election is depressing, but are you sure that turning to drink, and 24 Hour drinking at that, is the answer?
Here's an idea. Enforce the damn laws re drunk and disoderly. Make them too poor via fines to be able to drink or lock them up!
"Errr..."
Yeah, I know. But I can't let it pass without pointing out his idiocy!
"Try telling that to Norwich City Council who are planning to close one of the main thoroughfares out of the city centre, to make life safer for the piss-heads staggering out of the clubs at 2 am."
Oh, FFS!
"An adult has the right, human or otherwise, to do as he damn-well pleases, whenever he damn-well pleases... Just as long as he doesn't do harm to anyone else in the process."
Increasingly, we seem to be moving towards a society where what iis not specifically allowed is frowned on by the authorities...
"If they had slaughtered a dog like that..."
Unless it was a police dog, that is...
"It is the number of piss heads who if stamped on at the first sign of anti-social behaviour would get the message and learn to act properly and responsibly."
Exactly!
"Julia, I know the election is depressing, but are you sure that turning to drink, and 24 Hour drinking at that, is the answer?"
The more I see of it, the more I think the answer's 'Yes'!
"Here's an idea. Enforce the damn laws re drunk and disoderly."
The police will no doubt point out that if they ddo, the sentences from the magistrates will be derisory.
And they're probably right.
"Why is this only a problem in the rest of Europe when the Brits are "on tour"?
Oh, of COURSE, it is illegal to point out a certain group of people are predispossed to anything."
Nope, it's definitely an English underclass problem.
Samantha and Jeremy might get a little loud and talkative at that wonderful little bistro in Tuscany, but they almost certainly won't smash the place up before collapsing in the gutter in their own urine.
But once again, to focus on the ACTUAL problem would be seen as 'stigmatising' or 'discriminatory'.
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