PCC Joy Allen criticises plans for pubs to stay open longer

Joy Allen, Durham and Darlington’s Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), has warned that the Government's proposals could increase alcohol abuse and violence.

The plans, which could also make it easier for venues to serve food outside and host more live music, are being considered in a bid to "remove unnecessary barriers".

But PCC Allen said public services were already buckling under the strain of alcohol harm and raised awareness around the risks of alcohol-related illness in the North East.

“Longer drinking hours would make harmful drinking even more accessible under these plans and would undoubtedly increase the risk of serious violence, intoxication, sexual harassment and gender-based violence, placing extra pressure on policing resources and budgets at a time when they are already severely overstretched,” she said. 

The costs of crime and disorder related to alcohol are estimated to cost £812.4 million in the North East alone and are linked to 700,000 alcohol-related violent incidents a year. Tackling alcohol crime is part of the PCC’s new Police, Crime and Justice Plan for 2026. 

Ms Allen added: “Without a late-night levy in place, who would be picking up the tab for the increased policing costs for the extended hours and the likely fallout on crime levels - the taxpayer? Or should there be a windfall tax on the alcohol industry?

“I implore the Government to take the alcohol crisis seriously and to take heed of the growing evidence of its impact on society, without industry influence. The North East already has some of the worst rates of alcohol harm in the UK. 

“These plans would only exaggerate these challenges and place the region at further disadvantage. Surely lives must come before consumer demand and profits?”

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Business Secretary Peter Kyle launched a four-week consultation on licensing reform this week, which also includes plans to remove the requirement for alcohol licensing notices to be advertised in papers. 

Licensing notices are a key part of a reporting every week in newspapers, including the Northern Echo, whether that's new shops applying to sell alcohol from as early as 6am or bars having their licence revoked.

But the proposals mean the public could be shrouded in secrecy - and, even more chillingly, there are fears it could lead to the rest of the public notices revenue going the same way. 

The government’s Licensing Taskforce - which made the initial recommendation to scrap alcohol licensing notices in local papers - was set up to review the Licensing Act 2003, which applies to England and Wales.  

The taskforce was overwhelmingly made up of representatives from the hospitality and night-time industries, with media not represented on the group. 

Have your say over the planned reforms

The PCC, who is also the joint portfolio lead for Addictions and Substance Misuse on behalf of the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, also claimed commissioners were excluded from any of the initial discussions over the review. 

A Government spokesperson said: “These changes are about making it easier for pubs and restaurants to change their licensing conditions without unnecessary red tape.”