Politics - The nasty Mr Bean

Brown evolving from Mr Bean to Scrooge at Christmas on Drinking Fines - Pub Crawl Protest

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John Hemming 07958 398 388

John Hemming MP has complained that Gordon Brown appears to be "evolving from Mr Bean into Ebeneezer Scrooge" as we go into Christmas. He has tabled an Early Day Motion raising concerns about government proposals to send under cover policemen into clubs and pubs to find people who are drunk.

"At £80 per Fixed Penalty Notice," he said, "this is an easy way for the government to raise a bit of money towards the costs of funding Northern Rock. However, I do not think it is a good use of police time. The Home Office are paying £3000 to each of 90 Operations Control Units for them do go around collecting money in pubs."

"Defining when someone is drunk is difficult. The government are aware that problem drinking comes from supermarket alcohol. Yet they are targeting people who are out for a Christmas drink at lunch time or during the evening."

"I have spoken to the Police Federation who agree that this is a waste of police time. I am already aware of a few raids on pubs and the people who have been subjected to tests to identify how drunk they are were very unhappy at the overbearing acts of the government."

"Clearly Gordon Brown is evolving from Mr Bean into Ebeneezer Scrooge. This is a big mistake by the government. Historically we have only been concerned if someone was drunk on the highway or drunk and incapable. However, this particular action is targeted at people who are simply inebriated."

Mr Hemming has tabled an Early Day Motion No 410 which states:
That this House notes the plan for police officers to visit public houses during the Christmas period in order to identify people who are drunk and raise funds for the Exchequer by charging a fixed penalty fee of £80; questions whether this is a good use of police time; and calls for the Home Office to cancel this plan.

Mr Hemming is also participating in an act of civil disobedience with a number of high profile Birmingham Citizens by going on a pub crawl on Friday 30th November in central Birmingham.
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(30/11/07)