. Many of us know
> one or
> two pubs/clubs that create a lot of problems. Why shouldn't the
> licensing
> authorities be aware of how many A&E attendances came from that club
> before
> they decide about renewing the licence?
> Shouldn't BAEM be issuing some guidance on this?
>
> Matthew
>
The Police surely also know about these, as I pointed out in my original posting. It is extent not location that we are being asked to
supply. I don't know if the information will be passed to licensing authorities. I agree that there are other measures in the original paper
(BMJ 1998;316:879-80) some of which are less contentious. The reason I have raised the topic is that I have seen no debate (apart from
witnessing a lot of disquiet at the RSM) and that it seems likely to me that this may be a way of forcing us to provide other data to the
Police if we do not debate this properly now. I also think that his 'cure' is hopelessly simplistic, and will simply displace violent activity. I
reiterate that I am all in favour of reducing the suffering of needless interpersonal violence; what I am not convinced about is that this is
a long-term cure or that we should compromise our independence.
Let us take a hypothetical situation. I pass to my local force the information that there were 5 assaults in the month of September in the
vicinity of the "Rat and Macaw", one of which was a stabbing in the chest. The Police check up and find they know nothing about a
stabbing in my town in September. As from PACE (The Police and Criminal Evidence Act) from I think 1998, they HAVE to act on any
information obtained, the next thing I find is a senior officer at the reception with a request for further information about a serious
arrestable offence that occurred on or about... He has the PACE authorisation to request notes and full details and I have to comply.
This is a perfectly possible scenario.
Best wishes,
Rowley Cottingham
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