Acpo issues 'drunk tanks' call to tackle disorder

[Zingari]

I'd answer "No" to your last question: mature, sane, sober adults should be allowed to take risks if they want to.

 

As for the 3 examples of drunk people I quoted, none of them would necessarily need any medical aid, just a safe place to sleep it off and sober up. Also, what if they lived alone or a long way away or weren't sober enough to remember/say where they lived? Would it be nannyish to stop the bloke potentially causing a fatal traffic accident, the woman getting raped and the third person freezing to death?

Just take them home then for their own safety

.  Why is that any harder than taking them and  forcing them to stay at an overpriced travelodge  hostel. ? 

It's just another private enterprise scam 

[Webbo]

That would be threatening behaviour and the police have a right to arrest them for it and lock them up if necessary. , I don't see the need to take them off to an enforced stay at travelodge .

But then you have to arrest them and charge/caution them with all the paperwork involved,possibly giving them a criminal record.Much simpler to let them sleep it off.

As I say though I'm not mad on the idea.

[ADK]

Rubbish idea. Lets tackle the culture of drinking rather than locking people up for being legally drunk (being drunk isn't a crime).

[Zingari]

But then you have to arrest them and charge/caution them with all the paperwork involved,possibly giving them a criminal record.Much simpler to let them sleep it off.

As I say though I'm not mad on the idea.

Surely we are talking low level stuff here ( if it's a choice about an actual arrest or a trip to a hostel), so I can't see why a few stern words and a threat of arrest wouldn't do the trick just as well .

[howlinmadmurfdoc]

It's a slippery slope, once the police outsource one thing lots of others will follow!

[Manwell Pablo]

Yes , we should stop being so fookin nannyish .That's what the tories keep claiming to be .

 

In the types of cases you mentioned maybe they should be given some medical aid or taken home for their own safety , why take them to another institution ?

Should we stop people skydiving , mountain climbing or arrest all the nutters pulling crazy stunts on youtube because it could harm them ?

 

We should let people die when an intervention can be made, is what you are saying there?

 

Take them home? So next time I can't be arsed to get a taxi back after a night out I'll just act really pissed and the coppers will take me home ?

 

Sounds like a decent idea that will save money on locking up people for drunk and disorderly or for their own safety. Your just being your typical anti everything establishment self

[Manwell Pablo]

Surely we are talking low level stuff here ( if it's a choice about an actual arrest or a trip to a hostel), so I can't see why a few stern words and a threat of arrest wouldn't do the trick just as well .

 

No if you read the article (might help) you'll see it states it's those that are a clear danger to themselves. 

[Webbo]

Surely we are talking low level stuff here ( if it's a choice about an actual arrest or a trip to a hostel), so I can't see why a few stern words and a threat of arrest wouldn't do the trick just as well .

Well it's a suggestion from the police so they must think otherwise.Who knows,I doubt itll come to anything.

[Alf Bentley]

Just take them home then for their own safety

.  Why is that any harder than taking them and  forcing them to stay at an overpriced travelodge  hostel. ? 

It's just another private enterprise scam 

 

As I've pointed out, although the police bod suggests outsourcing, there's no reason why drunk tanks shouldn't be run as self-funding publicly-run institutions. Certainly, public control would need to be retained whether they were outsourced or public facilities.

 

As for "just take them home": what if a Leicester fan had got blind drunk after the match at Carlisle and crashed out in the town square - would someone be expected to drive them back to Leicester? Or, as I've said, what if the person couldn't/wouldn't tell their address or lived alone and was at risk of choking on their own vomit? None of these are particularly unlikely scenarios...

[Manwell Pablo]

It's a slippery slope, once the police outsource one thing lots of others will follow!

 

Oh they're trying to out source plenty of things, a recent calibration between Leicestershire Constab and LPT has been set up for example to try and tackle the problem of people continually getting arrested by the police when they should be treated for mental illness instead. As treating mental illness is not the Police's problem

 

And I agree, and neither is taking someone back to the cells because they'll probably freeze to death if someone doesn't do something.

 

It's called finding an apporpirate service. 

[Zingari]

No if you read the article (might help) you'll see it states it's those that are a clear danger to themselves. 

I was using Webbo's example in that particular case. Try following the discussion in sequence 

 

If they are breaking laws , arrest them . if they are in danger , get them to safety . Simple as. 

[Manwell Pablo]

I was using Webbo's example in that particular case. Try following the discussion in sequence 

 

If they are breaking laws , arrest them . if they are in danger , get them to safety . Simple as. 

 

Right, so if that includes detaining them, what's wrong putting them in a cell and making them pay for the pleasure as opposed to putting them in a cell at Tax Payers expense? Unless your seriously suggesting offering free taxis to all drunks.

[Rincewind]

Oh they're trying to out source plenty of things, a recent calibration between Leicestershire Constab and LPT has been set up for example to try and tackle the problem of people continually getting arrested by the police when they should be treated for mental illness instead. As treating mental illness is not the Police's problem

 

And I agree, and neither is taking someone back to the cells because they'll probably freeze to death if someone doesn't do something.

 

It's called finding an apporpirate service. 

That's what I was referring to in my post. How would a private company untrained  personnel know the difference between someone suffering from a mental disorder and a drunk if the police dont know.

[Manwell Pablo]

That's what I was referring to in my post. How would a private company untrained  personnel know the difference between someone suffering from a mental disorder and a drunk if the police dont know.

 

Think you've missed the point entirely Ken but never mind . 

[howlinmadmurfdoc]

It'd be cheaper to put them in taxis and send them home.

[Webbo]

It'd be cheaper to put them in taxis and send them home.

Not if you make them pay for it.

[Manwell Pablo]

It'd be cheaper to put them in taxis and send them home.

 

Most taxi drivers wont take people who are hammered.

 

Some people will be so pissed they wont be able to communicate their address

 

Some people don't have the money for a taxi on them, unless we're suggesting the police are paying, in which case I'm just gonna act paralytic next time I'm out and get a free taxi

 

Then there's the issue of the police leaving leaving a vulnerable adult in the car of a taxi driver they don't know from Adam.

 

And that's assuming the person is able to make it from the taxi back to their own house without getting into further trouble.

[ADK]

What if people can't pay, refuse to pay? Does the company pursue them through the county court or is it a matter for the police?

 

Can you appeal? I imagine it would be difficult to prove / disprove your level of drunkenness.

 

I imagine most people would much rather see problem drinking tackled at the root cause.

[Zingari]

Right, so if that includes detaining them, what's wrong putting them in a cell and making them pay for the pleasure as opposed to putting them in a cell at Tax Payers expense? Unless your seriously suggesting offering free taxis to all drunks.

No one's saying the police should act as a taxi and hotel service ffs.It really isn't like that.

Drunks have been falling asleep on benches and staggering home for as long as anyone can remember and very few actually die. And if they are in that bad condition to be in such danger  I really don't see that being taken to a hostel is the answer , Do you?

If they are in a really serious condition or in danger  they still will be taken  to A&E or taken to the police station if the are vulnerable and in danger. 

 

If just drunk , sent on their way  . If breaking laws arrest them. 

 

More nannying nonsense and a chance for a nice little earner for someone in the know . 

[Webbo]

What if people can't pay, refuse to pay? Does the company pursue them through the county court or is it a matter for the police?

 

Can you appeal? I imagine it would be difficult to prove / disprove your level of drunkenness.

 

I imagine most people would much rather see problem drinking tackled at the root cause.

Let me guess,education? That's always worked so well in the past.

[Zingari]

Let me guess,education? That's always worked so well in the past.

[Manwell Pablo]

 

No one's saying the police should act as a taxi and hotel service ffs.It really isn't like that.

Drunks have been falling asleep on benches and staggering home for as long as anyone can remember and very few actually die. And if they are in that bad condition to be in such danger  I really don't see that being taken to a hostel is the answer , Do you?

If they are in a really serious condition or in danger  they still will be taken  to A&E or taken to the police station if the are vulnerable and in danger. 

 

If just drunk , sent on their way  . If breaking laws arrest them. 

 

More nannying nonsense and a chance for a nice little earner for someone in the know . 

 

 

 

 

1000's die every year for various reasons due to them being paralytic after a night out, that's with the police locking up 10,000's every year for their own safety, and you want to not bother with it? The acute alcohol related death stats would go up massively, Yes I do actually a properly run hostel for drunk twats paid for by drunk twats employing people trained to look after drunk twats sounds ideal to me. Saves the tax payers money, teaches the particular drunk a lesson without them having to be at risk. Perfect solution.

 

We aren't talking about the ones in need of medical attention we are talking specifically about the 1000's locked up purely because they've lost all capability to look after their own well being, you seem to be forgetting this.

[Zingari]

Manny , if you think it will solve the problem , fair do's  

 

I don't think it will help one iota , but maybe it's worth a try . 

[Manwell Pablo]

Manny , if you think it will solve the problem , fair do's  

 

I don't think it will help one iota , but maybe it's worth a try . 

 

It's not going to solve anything drinking is somewhat ingrained in our culture and it's not going to go anywhere if you ask me. It might put a few people off at best.

 

It'll make dealing with the problem cheaper for the country though this is what I'm getting at 

[ADK]

Let me guess,education? That's always worked so well in the past.

 

Education , legislation , promotion of alternatives. I think these are better things to look at than a private money making exercise, I'm not sure it'll be costless to the taxpayer either as it still involves the police.