PAUL MARTIN: DISMAYED AT SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT INACTION ON ANTI    July 1, 2010

Paul Martin MSP has expressed disappointment at the decision by

the Scottish Government not to back his amendment in the

Criminal Justice Bill. The amendment would place a requirement

on all Chief Constables to provide anti social behaviour

reports connected to new licence applications.

The MSP for Springburn said:

"I am upset that residents who suffer anti social behaviour

from troublesome landlords and off licences in their

communities are being let down.

"With the approach that the Scottish Government are choosing to

take, it will mean that local communities will be denied the

full facts from the Police when someone is applying for a licence.

"I remember one example in Ruchazie where representations were

made by local residents in connection with an application. They

and the licensing authority were advised by the police that

there was nothing to report, yet they learned at a later stage

that the police had made 212 calls to the premises. It is my

belief that this is incompetent and inconsistent.

"The only way in which to ensure that our police authorities

consistently provide accurate information is to ensure that

they do so in the form of antisocial behaviour reports. We

should not leave the matter to police officers' discretion.

"We have heard from the Government many times today that police

authorities know best and that communities should do as they

are told. I do not accept that philosophy. Communities are

entitled to be sure that, when applications are submitted,

there is a proper interrogation of the antisocial behaviour

that has taken place surrounding the premises."