Watford has more binge drinkers and alcohol-related crime than national average

6:00pm Wednesday 1st September 2010

By Adam Binnie

The level of alcohol related crime and binge drinking in Watford is still worse than the national average, despite Hertfordshire showing an overall improvement from last year.

Figures published today in this year's Local Alcohol Profiles for England, show Watford is currently the 8th worst performing area in the Eastern region for alcohol-attributable crime.

Watford also has significantly more binge drinkers than the national average. Mayor Dorothy Thornhill called this "a national problem experienced by all major towns" and blamed visitors to the town centre, rather than residents.

She added: "Watford attracts people from all over Hertfordshire and way beyond to its town centre bars and clubs, so it is no surprise that our figures are high. The majority of these people won't live in Watford.

“Together with the police we are doing everything we can to combat binge drinking.”

Recent initiatives include “All Together Watford”, which targeted people arriving in the town centre already drunk.

Neighbourhood Inspector Chris Bryce said the Community Safety Partnership, a group made up of Police, both councils, the Fire and Rescue Service, the Police Authority and the Primary Care Trust, was working to fix the problems that the popularity of Watford during the day and night brought.

He added: "The binge drinking culture is a national issue and we in Watford suffer from this no more then any other comparable town in the country.

"The Community Safety Partnership already has some very robust processes in place to deal with those who visit and misuse the town."

Watford is also second only to Norwich for the number of claimants of incapacity benefit or severe disablement allowance, where the main medical reason is alcoholism.

Dr Raymond Jankowski, deputy director of public health said: “These profiles give a clear picture of how drinking affects the population of Hertfordshire.

“It is good to see that in general, these figures show that Hertfordshire compares well to other areas of the country.

“There are some areas of real concern which the local NHS and its partners are working hard to address.”

The Local Alcohol Profiles for England were released today by the North West Public Health Observatory, which is based in the Centre for Public Health at Liverpool John Moores University.

Neighbourhood Inspector Chris Bryce added: "The likely success of our long term objectives will mean an even safer, successful and enjoyable experience for visitors, local residents, business and the working community in Watford.”

Claimants of incapacity benefit, where the main medical reason is alcoholism (per 100,000).

Binge drinking (percentage of people over 16 who drink more than twice the recommended daily amount of alcohol in a single session).