Schedule 4 - Powers exercisable by police civilians
Police Reform Bill [Lords]
4:00 pm
Ms Annette Brooke (Mid Dorset and North Poole, Liberal Democrat)
This is an important issue on which we have already touched, and I shall be careful not to repeat the arguments that have already been put.
We are all aware of the enormous problems that alcohol abuse causes for the individual, the community and society, and it is undoubtedly a major contributor to antisocial behaviour. One of the amendments applies to CSOs and the other to accredited community safety officers, and their purpose is to distinguish between the treatment of minors and adults. Given my experience of these matters, I shall put the case rather strongly. I also want to make the point that this is an issue on which we can think about the great strengths of both community support officers and community safety officers.
I have been a local councillor for a very long time and I represent a relatively affluent ward in which alcohol abuse by young people is a big problem.