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Flip-flops, lollipops and coffee: Camden’s latest weapons in fight against binge drinking
Kiran Randhawa12 Oct 2010
Drunken revellers in Camden Town are being given condoms, biscuits and lollipops at the public's expense to avoid alcohol-related harm during a night out.
Under the scheme, branded “a pointless gimmick” by critics, the inebriated will also be offered tea, coffee and squash to sober up, while women in high heels will be given flip-flops to stop them falling over.
The trial, running until the new year, would cost tens of thousands of pounds every year if adopted permanently. Its organisers, Camden council, Camden police and NHS Camden, say it will help cut the number of drunken incidents every weekend.
But the TaxPayers'Alliance said: “Binge drinkers already costs taxpayers millions every year and should not be rewarded for their behaviour with treats. This scheme does nothing to increase individual responsibility or tackle what is a growing social problem.
“It is a horrendous waste of both taxpayers' money and precious police resources, which should be allocated to the front line and not this sort of pointless gimmick.”
Camden council said the offer of drinks and food “can stop people shouting, make them less aggressive and prevent post-alcohol hunger”.
Foil blankets will also be dispensed, along with advice on alcohol, drug and sexual health issues.
Abdul Hai, Camden's Cabinet member for
community safety, said: “We are spending just a few hundred pounds each weekend to ensure that people who come to our area can enjoy themselves and get home safely.”
Savings have been made by easing pressure on other public services in the two weeks the scheme has been running, he added.
It is run from a marquee on Fridays and Saturdays, from 8.30pm to 4am.
Last year paramedics responded to 3,453 alcohol-related call-outs in the area, the second-highest figure in the country.
A £30,000 scheme in Torquay in 2008 saw drunken women given flip-flops.
Reader views (11)
The sort of thing you might have expected from the late Lord Such and the Monster Raving Looney party. Just out of interest, what are you supposed to do with the lollipops? NO! DON´T TELL ME!
- Graham Rodhouse, Helmond, Holland, 13/10/2010 10:02
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A quick Google search reveals that this Mr bean lookalike is Supt Singer from the Devon police, where clearly naff all happens. Hopefully he`s been sacked by now for this utter lunacy.
- Clive, Hackney, 12/10/2010 20:25
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This grinning idiot is either a Superintendent or a Chief Superintendent (his rank badges are unclear). His mere appearance in this form sums up exactly what is wrong with our Police Force. A few years ago, a PC would have been threatened with the sack for adopting such an undignified, childish and unbecoming stance, but here we have a really senior officer acting like the village idiot. A more undignified image of the senior heirarchy of the Police it is hard to imagine.
I think he must have escaped from "Police Academy 1,2,3,4 or 5". Oh' to get back to the days when coppers looked and acted like people that could be respected. Half their job was done before they opened their mouths if they looked the part but sadly, clowns like this drag the image of the Police down into the pits.
- M. Clift, Worcester., 12/10/2010 19:11
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The lunatics have really taken over and the new government seems powerless or unwilling to stop it
- Terry, Hennebont France, 12/10/2010 15:25
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Camden council and the local police have got their priorities and tactics all wrong.
Rather than deal with the after effects of binge-drinking in a nice way by spending cash they theoretically haven't got anymore, they should tackle landlords who let these people get drunk in first place. Once a few pubs - preferably those that specialise in "High Volume Vertical Drinking" - have their licenses taken away, you can be sure this problem will ebb away PDQ.
Add to that arresting people who are drunk and disorderly, and hey presto, problem solved.
- Arfur Towcrate, Staffycher, 12/10/2010 13:45
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ID is correct. A much better idea would be to get them to spend a day or two cleaning up the mess and rubbish before being allowed home.
- Patrick, Dalston, 12/10/2010 13:07
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Its a wonder the Health and Safety have'nt stepped in here,you could do yourself a mischief with a flip-flop.
- Davey_buoy, Chertsey, 12/10/2010 12:22
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Perhaps the policeman in the picture should put a condom over his head along with all the other d*ckheads involved in these schemes.
- Prophalactics "R" Us, Loonyland UK, 12/10/2010 11:57
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Years ago drunken people would be locked up until the next day....now "Society" is an alcoholic's co-dependent....
- Mark, London, 12/10/2010 11:46
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As a Camden resident I am appalled by this complete waste of money!! What next? Free pipes for crackheads? A street bar for street drinkers?
Instead of trying to reward idiots for being drunk, loud and aggressive, why not have more police patrols instead? And zero tolerance towards this kind of reckless behaviour with on the spot fines.
- bob forton, London, 12/10/2010 11:45
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It could only happen in Camden, the headquarters of the Loony Left. These irresponsible binge drinkers should be made to pay for any hospital treatment they may require and to clean up the mess they leave behind. To spend yet more thousands of taxpayers money on these morons is just beyond belief and the police authorities should have nothing more to do with it. I'm totally behind the TPA on this.
- ID, South coast, UK, 12/10/2010 10:33
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