In preparation for the Christmas party season, Cheshire Constabulary have launched a unique approach to alcohol that combines enforcement tactics with providing information to members of the public. The Good the Bad and the Ugly campaign aims to inform the public about making choices concerning drinking alcohol before they let 'Christmas Spirit' cloud their judgement. It will run through out December into the New Year.
Over the past few years the Constabulary has carried out work to understand the circumstances behind the crimes they record and investigate. One of the overriding conclusions to this work is that alcohol influences the behaviour of many of those people who come into contact with the Constabulary, be it as a victim, witness or offender.
Assistant Chief Constable Janette McCormick said: "The Good, The Bad and the Ugly campaign captures the essence of what the police service as a whole encounters over the Christmas period.
"Policing activity over the Christmas period will give particular emphasis to crimes and anti-social behaviour where we know alcohol plays a part. The Good, The Bad and the Ugly campaign is designed to show members of the public the effects of alcohol on behaviour and how that behaviour manifests itself on the streets, and in our communities over Christmas.
"It is not our intention to stop people having a GOOD time and our officers on the streets often meet with Christmas party revellers who are on a night out. Most of the time in Cheshire they do not cause any problems to other members of local communities and officers have a GOOD interaction with them.
"However, where we find a problem related to alcohol, local communities can be reassured that we will address it with our partners. BAD practice, for example, we will take action on, is if we find licensees are putting profits above personal safety by serving people who are very drunk or retailers who are not checking the ages of those people who purchase alcohol.
"Finally, if alcohol affects behaviour to an extent where things really get UGLY officers will bring those responsible to justice. Alcohol can not be used as an excuse for BAD and UGLY behaviour.
"We do not just deal with offenders whose behaviour is influenced by alcohol; we often deal with victims where alcohol has clouded their judgement in a particular situation. They can find themselves being a victim of rape or sexual assault. Our traffic officers regularly spend time dealing with drivers involved in collisions who are over the drink drive limit and local community officers spend considerable time dealing with calls about alcohol related anti social behaviour and underage drinking. In addition, nationally, alcohol is a contributory factor in at least half of domestic abuse cases."
Cheshire police's message is clear this Christmas – Officers and staff will be taking tough action against those who use alcohol as an excuse for committing violence, causing injury, drinking and driving or getting involved in anti-social behaviour.
ACC McCormick added: "If you are underage and drinking alcohol you will be on our radar. We are working together with other agencies to tackle alcohol related harm and we will use the powers at our disposal to deal with any behaviour that is disrupting others and offering help for those who need it.
"Having a good time and being responsible with drink means your contact with officers will be GOOD as we patrol our communities over the Christmas and New Year.
"Over indulgence in alcohol this Christmas can lead to a BAD experience for you, if you become the victim of a crime. For those people whose behaviour is really UGLY, a criminal record will be their only Christmas present this year."
