Late Fringe licences stretching police in Edinburgh - union chief

A police union's calling for a re-think on Edinburgh's late drinking laws during the Fringe.

Some bars and clubs in the capital extend their licences from 3am to 5am so that revellers can party for longer while the world's biggest arts festival is in town.

Edinburgh Council says decisions on late licenses are made with help from the police.

Festival and festive extensions of drinking licences have been allowed for years.

However, Chair of the east area of the Scottish Police Federation Andrew Malcolm says it means officers are dealing with more drunken violence and are increasingly strained.

“It places extra pressure and stress on communities and you now have people who are under the influence of alcohol able to extend their drinking time by a further two hours.

“Police officers are strained, they already suffer from an overwhelming demand caused by the late hour licencing and drinking culture.

“Binge drinking culture and the problems it brings with it could be avoided by licencing boards looking at the need to have drinking between 3am and 5am.

“The impact on antisocial behaviour, violence and disorder, and the impact it has on already stretched public services is a consequence of granting these additional two hours.”

Licensing Board Convener Councillor Norman Work from Edinburgh Council says decisions on late licences are well thought out.

He believes the two-hour extension makes little difference as long as premises apply with the licensing conditions.

He says: “Applications for 5am licences, whether on an occasional basis or as a variation to an existing licence, are considered by the Licensing Board on an individual basis, in consultation with Police Scotland, and are often granted with attached conditions.

“We recently consulted on the terms of the Licensing Board’s policy, which included provision for the two hour extension of licensed hours during the festival and festive periods. The police response to the consultation commented about the increased use of extension of licensed hours other than at festival and festive periods. This was duly taken account of by the Board, when the new policy statement was agreed.

“We check if they’ve got stewards in place and that they’re complying with all the licensing conditions.

“If anything is reported that is untoward in how places are operating then we do take into consideration remarks from the police and from members of the public."