Violent Crime Reduction Bill

I sleep very peacefully in my bed, when I get to it, knowing that this Government are introducing neighbourhood policing in every community across the country, which will make a real difference to our constituents. The hon. Member for The Wrekin (Mark Pritchard) has taken issue with the hon. Member for Woking, who tabled an amendment that would allow the Secretary of State to make decisions in Whitehall. The power is meant to be local and flexible, which has divided opinion on the Opposition Benches. The hon. Member for Woking has said that the Association of Chief Police Officers does not support alcohol disorder zones. In its letter of 18 March, however, it stated that it did see alcohol disorder zones as a welcome step forward. It said that it responded to its long-held concern that the industry needs to shoulder greater responsibility for the disorder to which excessive drinking gives rise. Similarly, the Local Government Association supports alcohol disorder zones, so it is entirely wrong to characterise alcohol disorder zones as a policy introduced by the Government without the support of important stakeholders.