Chief Constable of Strathclyde Police, Steve House, has revealed that officers in his jurisdiction have responded to 18 murders since April 1st this year, 14 of them alcohol-related. He continued by stating that in a high proportion of cases both the perpetrators and victims were drunk and that a high amount of crimes committed occurred in the home or at house parties.

‘Do I believe pricing in large supermarkets and off-sales chains plays a role? Yes, I do.’ Over the last weekend alone in the Strathclyde Police area of operation, there were 31 serious assaults, with alcohol being a factor in virtually all of them, the Police themselves often getting hurt or injured in the crossfire.

It is important to recognise, however, that overall there has been a 26% reduction in murders across Strathclyde since last year. The interview, given ahead of a meeting between House and Labour MSPs, brought about a significant call for new and more stringent rules and laws regarding the pricing of alcohol, as well as new guidelines for alcohol availability such as restrictions on the number of new off-sales licences. It was prompted by the rejection of minimum pricing laws by Labour, and supported with facts from Strathclyde Police and Alcohol Focus Scotland. ‘The whisky industry wants to say that minimum pricing will impact upon a national product…. …many of the same companies are behind the cheap vodka’.

John

John has dedicated his life to finding treatment for those with addictions and supporting their families.
A business manager for 20 years in the construction industry John’s own experience of addiction led him to found his own rehab centre group in Scotland.
John qualified as a counsellor for people with substance misuse during his time working as a therapist and manager for the foundation. He also trained as an interventionist and appeared on ITV as a consultant helping families impacted by addiction.
He has helped thousands of people in recovery and his knowledge of the rehabilitations process and the addiction experience is unparalleled.

About the author

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John

John has dedicated his life to finding treatment for those with addictions and supporting their families. A business manager for 20 years in the construction industry John’s own experience of addiction led him to found his own rehab centre group in Scotland. John qualified as a counsellor for people with substance misuse during his time working as a therapist and manager for the foundation. He also trained as an interventionist and appeared on ITV as a consultant helping families impacted by addiction. He has helped thousands of people in recovery and his knowledge of the rehabilitations process and the addiction experience is unparalleled.