21 October 2006

Biometric scheme reduces night-time street violence in Yeovil

Brian McKenna

A biometric system for premises licensed to sell alcohol in the English rural town of Yeovil has reduced night time street disorder. Julia Bradburn, Principal Licensing Officer for South Somerset District Council told delegates at Biometrics 2006 that between May and September this year only “two major incidents” had happened in the six premises enrolled in the scheme, compared with “between 20 and 25” in the six months prior.

She also confirmed that domestic violence had gone up in the same period. She could not confirm that this was an effect of crime displacement, and would not be drawn on the rate of increase of domestic violence in the town, and to what extent the rate was alcohol related.

The biometric scheme, called ‘In touch’, makes registration a condition of entry to participating clubs and pubs. It is also networked: “the first networked system for the night time economy”, said Bradburn.

People can go to the participating establishments in the knowledge that “known troublemakers are unlikely to be there”.

Of the two ‘major incidents’ – entailing the call out of a “significant” number of police officers — one was a sexual assault, and the identities of both parties has been secured as a result of the scheme.

Six Yeovil establishments participate the scheme, and it has 5,000 users.

Asked if troublemakers were taking their violence to other towns, Bradburn said the town’s isolated location militated against that. Hull, Coventry and Sheffield are interested, she reported.

Back to news index