DAVID BLUNKETT and his top civil servants tried to block the government’s plans to bring in 24-hour drinking because of fears they would lead to a surge in crime, leaked Whitehall memos reveal.

In a letter to Tony Blair, Blunkett, then home secretary, warned that the plans for round-the-clock drinking were “a leap in the dark” that risked “worsening the situation” of violent crime and yobbish behaviour.

His objections were, however, overruled by Tony Blair and Tessa Jowell, the culture secretary, who claimed that 24-hour opening would help to tackle the British habit of binge drinking before closing time and would boost tourism.

The leaked documents reveal for the first time deep divisions within the Labour leadership on the issue and how the government’s desire to boost the economy has overridden concerns about law and order.

More than 100 pages of internal Whitehall documents, seen by The Sunday Times last week, also reveal:

• A consultation document by Blair’s strategy unit was redrafted to remove evidence of a link between drink and 19,000 sex assaults a year and the “adverse” effect 24-hour opening might have on local residents;
• The government has been considering a compulsory levy on pubs and clubs to pay for extra policing since last year, showing it feared a rise in disorder. Richard Caborn, the culture minister, claimed last week there were no such plans;
• Jowell wanted to change the definition of binge drinking to downplay the problem.

  The disclosure of the concerns by Blunkett and some of the Home Office’s most senior crime experts will fuel the growing backlash against 24-hour drinking by chief constables, medical professionals and backbenchers who share their fears.

  The documents show that, despite the opposition, Downing Street has been determined to have the legislation in place this year, as a lure to young voters in the run-up to the expected general election in May.

  One note, prepared by Caborn’s advisers, records: “Reform of outdated licensing laws is a key manifesto commitment and there is increasing pressure on (the culture) department from the centre (Downing Street) to have the transitional arrangements in place and completed by the middle of 2005.”

  Caborn urged Blunkett to drop his opposition to the licensing bill. Referring to the row in a letter sent last March, he wrote: “The atmosphere is becoming feverish and it will be damaging if it continues.”

  The Home Office’s criticisms reinforce those expressed last week by chief constables. A key opponent to the new law was Ellie Roy, the Home Office crime reduction director. At a meeting in February she told officials from Downing Street, the Treasury and the culture department: “Robust arrangements need to be in place to tackle the crime and disorder problems associated with alcohol misuse . . . However, there are widespread concerns that the Licensing Act 2003 (will) make matters worse. Binge drinking (is) a particular problem.”

  She was supported by Leigh Lewis, a permanent secretary at the Home Office and the government’s most senior crime-fighting mandarin. At a meeting in February to discuss “Home Office concerns with the Licensing Act”, Lewis outlined official unpublished research showing links between binge drinking and violence.

  “Violent crime was up 14%; a significant proportion was taking place in proximity to licensed premises . . . Stranger crime was increasing significantly; and 47% of the victims of violent crime believed that their assailant was under the influence of alcohol.”

  A month later, however, the Downing Street strategy unit published its “Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy for England” which had been significantly watered down from its original form. The draft, a copy of which has been seen by The Sunday Times, stated: “Large numbers of people are adversely affected by the growth of the night-time economy.”

  That statement was excised from the final version, as was the fact that alcohol might be a contributory factor in 19,000 sexual assaults every year.

  The culture department also successfully lobbied Downing Street to remove criticism of the drinks industry from the document. All references to plans for a compulsory levy on the industry to pay for extra policing were removed, including the recommendation: “We believe that these producers (drinks companies) have a responsibility to help contribute towards picking up this bill.”

  Urging colleagues to change the definition of binge drinking, a briefing paper for Jowell for a meeting with Blunkett states: “Binge was defined at such a low level that large numbers of pensioners were held guilty of it. There was a huge gap between the medical and public interpretation of the term.”

  The disclosures support claims last week by Frank Dobson, the former health secretary, that officials at the culture department were in thrall to the drinks industry.

  Andrew Cunningham, head of licensing at the culture department, told a licensing conference in October 2002: “Remember that the reform has other opponents out there who will be seeking to change this bill in ways you will not like at all. If you are divided, you could hand victory to the nanny-staters.”

  Asked last week if there were plans for a compulsory levy on pubs and clubs, Caborn said: “The answer, to the best of my knowledge, is no.”

  However, the leaked documents show Blunkett warned Blair a year ago that pubs and clubs should be forced to pay a levy to fund more police — a plan floated again by the Home Office last week. Blunkett told Jowell he wanted “compulsory charging of the hospitality industry for the cost of policing”.

  The leaked papers also reveal that Blunkett wanted to make it harder for new pubs to get licences unless they could show they would not add to drink-related violence in a town centre.

  Jowell said the government would reconsider the levy plan after the next election if binge drinking was still a problem. She will try to curb binge drinking by banning ‘happy hours’ and ‘all you can drink deals’. “What has done more damage than anything else is free drinks promotions and happy hours. They are so aggressively marketed,” she told The Observer.

  David Davis, shadow home secretary, said: “This leak shows the government’s own fears that 24-hour drinking will actually increase violent crime. The new law should be delayed until these problems are brought under control.”

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