Hip, hip, hip hooray. Oh Frabjous Day, Calloo, Callay. Three PCCs have come out to play...
"We are writing to express our grave concern having read recent media reports (14 March) suggesting the government is on the verge of dropping its commitment to a minimum unit price for alcohol. We believe this would be a major backwards step in our collective attempts to reduce crime in our communities.
While crime rates are falling in the three force areas in the north-east, the link between cheap alcohol and crime is undeniable. The freedom sections of the alcohol industry are is being given to sell certain products at pocket money prices is at the expense of vulnerable communities and our frontline public services. In the north-east, more than £316m was spent in 2010-11 handling an estimated 213,800 alcohol-related crimes - and this is being repeated across the country.
While sections of the global alcohol industry have been trying to undermine confidence in minimum unit price, the independent evidence supporting its introduction gets stronger by the day. It has the support of the majority of people in the north-east. It is supported by our GPs and our police officers. It is even supported by those people who run our pubs. We urge the government to follow the independent evidence base - for the sake of the people of the north-east and the frontline services that support them.
Barry Coppinger Police and crime commissioner for Cleveland, Ron Hogg PCC Durham, Vera Bair PCC Northumbria "
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/mar/21/support-minimum-alcohol-pricing