Morning:
8°c
These scenes vindicate my Underground alcohol ban, claims Boris
Katharine Barney, Evening Standard02.06.08
Boris Johnson said today that his alcohol ban on the Tube was vindicated by the "Circle line party" which resulted in assaults and arrests.
But Bob Crow, leader of the Rail, Maritime and Transport Union, said the Mayor should apologise to all Tube staff for Saturday night's debacle.
Mr Johnson's ban led to protests across London on Saturday night with Underground workers and police officers being assaulted and abused.
Carriages were damaged and some stations were forced to close because of overcrowding.
Seventeen were arrested for offences which included assault, being drunk and disorderly, public order-related offences and drug offences.
Four train drivers and three other members of the Underground staff were assaulted . The tyres of a police vehicle were slashed, two officers were assaulted and another injured.
Mr Crow said: "Boris Johnson should apologise personally to all those who were assaulted and abused last night thanks to a half-baked gimmick designed solely as a publicity stunt.
"The RMT will support any measure that reduces anti-social behaviour but this ban was imposed in haste without consultation with Tube staff. We warned it could put our members at greater risk of assault, but there is no comfort in being proved right when Tube workers have been injured and abused."
However Mr Johnson said today that he still entirely supported the ban and that it had been brought in partially to protect the RMT staff.
A spokesman for him said: "If people weren't convinced of the need for a ban before then they should be now. This behaviour shows exactly why we need to have a ban.
"Boris is not a prude and enjoys the occasional drink but to have people gulping away on the Tube is simply not acceptable.
"He is astonished that the RMT should protest that this ban is something Boris Johnson should apologise for when it is actually designed to protect their members."
One of those arrested was Alan Hyndmanwho was given an £80 fine. In a posting on Facebook he said: "I personally got ar rested for ' used words/behaviour likely to cause a person hearing harassment/alarm/ distress'.
"I said to a cop: 'I wish I had your job mate, you're wicked.' He followed me down the street asked me to move along. I said: 'I am leaving - that's why I've got my f***ing back to you.'
"In cuffs in the back of the van and an £80 fine. Still worth it, awesome night. thanks guys."
A TfL spokesman said: "Large numbers of people did gather on the Underground. While the majority were well behaved there were a number of incidents dealt with by our staff and British Transport Police, who made a number of arrests.
"Some stations were closed for certain periods to manage overcrowding and there was some disruption to trains and Tube services."
Liverpool Street Underground station was closed to ease overcrowding for several hours as were Euston, Euston Square, Aldgate, Gloucester Road and Baker Street.
Superintendent Ellie Bird, of British Transport Police, said a small minority of drinkers had ruined the festive atmosphere. "This was an unfortunate end to what was intended to be a fun event," she said.
"The intention of the organisers was that this should not be a disorderly or disruptive event. We view this as a one-off organised event and not an indication of the alcohol-fuelled disorder that we will experience now that the ban is in place."
Reader views (19)
The ban covers everyone; doesn't make any difference whether you enjoy a can of beer on the way back home or get drunk and disturb people in the carriage. How can we say that everyone who drinks alcohol will end up harassing others? If an anti-social behaviour happens, regardless of its reason, sure it will be prosecuted. So why to ban everyone's drinking freedom completely?
unless:
the amount of people who harass others due to alcohol consumption has been increased drastically, then we should understand how it forces authorities to take an action against it in order to protect public safety. I think this is what that spokesman was talking about:
A spokesman for him said: "If people weren't convinced of the need for a ban before then they should be now. This behaviour shows exactly why we need to have a ban."
- Polly, London, UK
Please will the newspapers stop referring to Saturday's activities as "protests". It was nothing more than an excuse for a bender. Since when did large-scale drunkenness classify as a protest? Under this definition there are protests in my local every weekend!
- James, London
The ban was a daft idea but lets look at the protesters, middle class bankers and students sticking two fingers up at the establishment, mmm bankers, er part of the establishment aren't they?
Lets see if the powers that be jail them like the poll tax protesters or whether daddy steps in to pay the fine.
- Gary, London, UK
Why not sue Facebook for the damage and policing costs?
- Simon (Expat), Waltham MA
Of course if red Ken had introduced this ban dinosaur Bob Crowe would be fully supporting it. However there was plenty of advance notice that this 'party' was happening - were the Police properly prepared, it seems not.
- Mark, Bournemouth England
Bob Crowe is an Idiot. Boris' plan is to help protect RMT staff and the public. Bob should spend less criticizing others as when did we hear him coming up with a decent alternative?
- Paul Humphreys, Essex
I attended about 5 tube parties on Saturday night, eventually getting stuck before Farringdon station. There were thousands of people enjoying themselves and having fun. Only17 were arrested! It's a shame that the minority had to ruin the night, but their behaviour doesn't justify the ban! To be honest, I don't think that this law will make much difference to people who want to drink on TFL. They still will regardless.
I also think that the Police behaved poorly. They literally pushed passengers down the stairs as we were exiting Baker Street Station.
- Laila, London
For the bafoon Boris to say this vindicates his ban on booze is ridiculous. I travel on the tube every day and not once have I felt threatened by people drinking. Now staff are supposed to stop people I feel I shall be seeing more violence not less. Did he carry out any research to see how much violence was carried out by people drinking on the tube? I suspect not in the same way he didn't carry out any research regarding the 4th plinth or the cost of reintroducing the Routemaster.
- Ian, London
Strange that Bob Crow is aligning himself to "toff bankers" from RBS - what about being concerned for the safety of your staff and underground customers?
TFL and the Police should make Alexandre Graham and Ray Sampson foot the bill for the extra policing and clean up, not to mention compensation to the injured. There is no excuse for political violence but no doubt these boys will get away with it because Mummy and Daddy will "sort it out".
When will Livingstone's people realise the he was voted out democratically?
- Joe, London
I can understand the RMT's concern for its members but they should be asking the rioters to apologise, not Boris. I completely support this ban as do 80% of Londoners.
- Edward, Winchester
I was disappointed that Boris was elected (I voted for Ken), but I am behind him 100% on the alcohol ban. Perhaps the pillock who organised the "party" can use some of the extra leisure time he will have when RBS give him the sack to go and personally apologise to the four train drivers and 3 other LUL workers who were assaulted as the result of his and his friends' antics.
- Steve The Old Git, London UK
Bob Crow is his usual embarrassing anachronistic self.
Some things never change, but hopefully tube booze is a thing of the past.
- Scott, London
At least you've got public transport in the evenings, try pissing it up in Leics and its collapsed city of death through a million road 'improvements'
- Liam Morris, le2
They should ban dinosaurs from the tube as well. That'll be Bob Crow and other Red Ken comrades out on their ear.
- The Vicar, Basildon
Totally predictable! I cannot believe the naivety and foolishness of the organisers of the party - an excuse to party in a public place is always an excuse for a few irresponsibles to ruin the occasion for the great majority.
It's only a tiny minority who drink on London public transport then go to commit crimes, but that minority has made the ban a necessity.
There are very few places in the English-speaking world where one is allowed to drink on public transport or in public places as most English-speaking peoples usually contain a small minority who do not cope well with unregulated access to alcohol.
I believe that the Mayor has taken a moderate and sensible step to protect London public transport users from alcohol-fuelled crime and he should be commended for it.
The union leader who sees the ban as an attack on his members has an oddly perverted view of social behaviour.
- Kiwi Expat, London, UK
What an idiot. When was there ever damage and mayhem to equal this. If he wants to use this protest as justification for his on the hoof decision so be it, but he shouldn't make a habit of these so called people-pleasing policies. Obviously on this occasion the people weren't pleased, and these are the oiks who voted for him.
- Val Daniels, Mijas Costa. Spain
Bob Crow is a fool to say this is a bad thing. Everyday we are told we are binge drinkers and that we all drink too much, but when Boris finally stands up and does something positive, people moan that they can't drink and then go out and do exactly that, to excess.. Keep up the good work Boris!
- Joanna Carling, london england
No, these scenes show that if you make stupid rules people will break them. You got what you deserved Boring Boris. Let's hope more comes your way.
- Ben Robinson, Brighton, UK
How can anybody say it was not supposed to be a disorderly event when you've sent out an open invitation to get smashed on public transport? I agree with Boris that this has proved how little consideration and self control people have. As for Bob Crow, Ken lost so get over it comrade!
- Mark, London, UK
