Government blocks bid to keep drunks out of jail
viaEvening Standard
The Government is blocking a pioneering plan to cut crime by letting violent drunks take breath tests instead of going to prison, the Mayor's policing spokesman said today.
Either you're in front of Boris, or Westminster is behind him. |
But the plans for mandatory sobriety tests are being blocked by Ministry of Justice officials, City Hall said.
Kit Malthouse, deputy mayor for policing, said the ministry is refusing to back the plan because it is "not very good at coping with new ideas".
It comes days after the new Scotland Yard commissioner, Bernard Hogan-Howe, said constant testing of convicted drunks is needed to cut crime.
The twice-a-day breath tests plan was inspired by a successful programme in America.
Mr Johnson said such a programme needed to be introduced in the wake of the riots as "the horror and expense of the current booze culture" was evident throughout accident and emergency departments throughout London.
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