Late Night Policing in Brentwood: action sought

Cllr Philip Mynott has called for the council to ask businesses, in particular clubs & pubs, to make voluntary contributions to policing late night activity in the town centre and lobby central government to introduce legislation on the same issue.

Cllr Mynott, whose Brentwood North ward includes The Sugar Hut and the Eclipse Nightclub, as well as the many pubs on the north side of the High Street, feels that a voluntary contribution will assist the local police in dealing with disturbances and increase local police presence late at night.

He said:

"I have reason to believe the costs are becoming considerable and, although there is no statutory instrument available to us to compel any such payment to be made, I feel that the businesses that make up the night time economy would see it as their responsibility to make a contribution in order to keep their clientele safe, especially in light of some recent incidents."

The motion, put to Brentwood Council by Cllr Mynott, reads:

"In view of the apparently increasing burdens being placed on the Brentwood's policing resources by the operation of businesses in the town centre's night time economy, we urge the council to engage with pubs and clubs open after 11pm, with the intention of establishing any possible means by which such companies might offer a voluntary contribution towards the costs of the policing that their business seems to entail, and thereby indicate their continued preparedness to show that they balance their commercial operation with community spiritedness.

"However, to the same end, we also ask for Brentwood Borough Council to add its voice to those appealing to central government to introduce legislation which may be under consideration, intended to require statutory contributions towards policing costs by such businesses".