In Gloucestershire police say that they’re taking a tougher line with licensed premises which see incidents of ‘glassing’ – the practice of using a glass as a weapon to cause someone harm.
Local police will now formally write to Designated Premises Supervisors (the person who has day to day responsibility for the running of the premises) whenever a ‘glassing’ incident occurs to request that they consider using polycarbonate glasses instead. If a further ‘glassing’ incident occurs within the 12 months after the letter is sent, the police may take the matter to a Licensing Authority hearing for them to consider if the licence should be revoked.
The Gloucestershire force’s Licensing Manager, PC Jaine Simner said “Although we don’t have a major issue in Gloucestershire’s pubs and clubs with glassing, or indeed disorder generally, we do need to encourage the owners of licensed premises to be as responsible as possible, and to take effective measures, if incidents of this type do occur.
“Most major clubs and pubs with late night licences already use polycarbonate glasses, particularly if they are part of a national chain where this has been common practice in other parts of the country for many years. But we are seeking to encourage this throughout Gloucestershire whenever these horrific incidents do occur. Just one look at the photos of people who have suffered injuries caused by ‘glassing’ shows why we can’t tolerate repeated incidents on licensed premises.”
This initiative also helps deliver part of Gloucestershire Police and Crime Commissioner Martin Surl’s 2013-17 Police and Crime Plan; namely, reducing alcohol related crime and making the county’s streets and pubs safer and more sociable, day and night.
