LIVES are being put at risk because there are too few policemen to tackle alcohol-related violence, one of Scotland’s most senior officers said this weekend.

Tom Buchan, a chief superintendent in Strathclyde who is president of the Association of Scottish Police Superintendents, claims that forces lack sufficient resources to tackle the burgeoning problem of antisocial behaviour caused by binge drinking.

He called for money to fund a “prolonged blitz” on alcohol misuse, with more officers at known flashpoints as the main thrust of the clampdown.

Buchan plans to raise the issue at the association’s annual conference in Peebles later this month. While he points out that his comments should not be seen as an attack on the Scottish executive’s past performance, he believes that more money must be made available to address the problems of alcohol-related disorder.

Buchan’s comments will embarrass Jack McConnell, the first minister, who has put crime at the top of his agenda.

Police estimate that alcohol-related violence and disorder cost the Scottish economy more than £1 billion each year. Accident and emergency departments in the nation’s cities report that 75% of their weekend caseload is a result of drink-fuelled violence — while three quarters of all assaults are caused by people under the influence of drink. More than 70 people are stabbed or slashed in Scotland every week, with alcohol implicated in many of the attacks.

“Alcohol is without doubt the single biggest contributor to acts of violence, often resulting in death and near-death situations. It is not just a big city issue, it’s an endemic problem in almost every town and village,” said Buchan.

“Public safety and confidence are at risk. We want to do more. We know the hot spots; we know there are going to be fights at the taxi rank and the burger bar — what are we doing about it? The best solution is to have more police officers in these locations. At the end of the day it’s about resources — and resources need funding.

“How much does it cost for a victim in intensive care for two weeks, followed by a further month’s stay in hospital and a year off work — £100,000 perhaps? Is prevention not better than cure?”

Among the speakers at the conference will be Cathy Jamieson, the justice minister, and Tavish Scott, the deputy finance minister Last year the executive pledged to change Scotland’s drinking habits by supporting measures recommended in the Nicholson report. Sheriff principal Gordon Nicholson QC chaired a working panel set up to tighten licensing laws in Scotland.

Opposition politicians welcomed Buchan’s comments and said they highlighted the concerns found in many forces.

“It leads you to the inescapable statistic that in Scotland on average at any one time there are only 140 police actually on the pavements,” said David McLetchie, leader of the Scottish Tories.

“How can you police this with such a lamentable number of available?” He called for talks between the licensed trade, councils and all other bodies that have a vested interest in solving the problem.

Kenny MacAskill, justice spokesman for the Scottish National party, said: “It’s not simply a police problem but a social and cultural one.

“More resources and a high visibility police presence are necessary — but the root cause is that Scotland as a nation has a problem with alcohol. That cannot be solved by the police forces alone. It needs to extend to the action of individuals and the mores of our society.”

Jack Law, chief executive of Alcohol Focus Scotland, said: “Very little is invested directly in alcohol-related issues yet the number of people dying every day from alcohol misuse is significant. Not only is more money needed but there needs to be better use of it.”

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