Glasses could be removed from Colchester pubs (From Gazette)
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Glasses could be removed from Colchester pubs
9:41am Friday 1st March 2013 in News
PUBS and clubs in Colchester town centre are being urged to stop using glass drink containers.
A campaign to get glass out of busy late night premises in the town is growing momentum and now has the support of several high profile figures.
Colchester MP Sir Bob Russell, police and crime commissioner Nick Alston, Colchester Council and the borough’s Community Safety Partnership are all pushing for pubs to switch to polycarbonate containers.
PubWatch, an organisation for landlords in Colchester, has not yet commented on the latest proposal.
See the full story in Monday's Gazette.
Comments(63)
super waluigi
says...
9:57am Fri 1 Mar 13
I think most trendy bars and its visitors could easily adopt plastic cups and not worry about it.
wormshero
says...
10:00am Fri 1 Mar 13
icecoolmark
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10:39am Fri 1 Mar 13
karen f
says...
11:00am Fri 1 Mar 13
We are not asking for plastic, we are asking for polycarbonate, which does not alter the taste of the contents, lasts longer than it's glass contemporaries and in the long-run turns out to be cost-neutral.
POP-Campaign are asking for the law to be changed in late night town and city centre pubs and clubs only, not our rural pubs nor restaurants.
Far from wanting to close any establishments of this nature it would enhance their reputation as being a safer venue for all, that's customers as well as staff! It is not only attacks but accidents that occur too.
Insurance premiums for these venues would go down, costs would reduce for stock replenishment and compensation payouts would be reduced.
There are 1.2 million incidents of alcohol-related violence per year in the UK, of which, over 80,000 are glass attacks. The overall cost to the NHS is £1.7 billion per year. The criminal injuries compensation pays approx £3,000 per glass attack. In 2004 £4.5 million was paid for such cases. I hate to think how much they pay out now!
I think with the current state this country is in, we need this change in the law for so many reasons.
TheCaptain
says...
11:37am Fri 1 Mar 13
So we are talking about late night town centre venues so I can;t see why anyone would object.
totallyfootball
says...
11:43am Fri 1 Mar 13
karen f
says...
11:50am Fri 1 Mar 13
There have already been success stories around the country where POP-Campaign have worked ... one of these being Hull in 2008.
Craig Burnett, Consultant Opthalmologst at Hull & East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust has reported "Including the NHS bill, one single glassing incident can cost the state up to £1 million. There are often 2-3 operations per case and numerous ward and clinic attendances. There's the cost of a great many police and legal hours, which can include painstaking evience gathering and barristers costs surrounding a crown court trial. Once convicted, there's the cost of keeping the offender in prison for up to six years. Since the introduction of polycarbonate glasses in Hull City Centre 8 months ago (May/June 2008), I have not had to perform any operations as a result of a glassing, whereas in 2007 I encountered one glassing injury per week."
This is just one man's positive perspective on the change from glass to polycarbonate ... imagine how many more there are?
karen f
says...
11:56am Fri 1 Mar 13
totallyfootball wrote:It's not just the people who have had too much to drink, there are countless accidents too!
I agree with those above but there would be no need for this is people were just in a more responsible manner. Like owners and landlords not just thinking about their pockets and to stop serving those that clearly have had far too much!
Dance floors having to be replaced on a regular basis where glasses get knocked off tables or dropped accidentally. Girls cutting their feet when they've taken their high heels off to dance. Staff cutting themselves whilst loading and emptying dishwashers etc.
karen f
says...
12:20pm Fri 1 Mar 13
icecoolmark wrote:I do drink in Colchester as do my two oldest children.
Those people that are 'pro' this idea probably don't even go out drinking in Colchester, that will include me if I have to drink out of a plastic 'glass'. Why not just serve water too and treat all adults like children... Then wait until all pubs are closed down and re-open as a barbers or nail parlour.
Those that are 'anti' this idea have probably never even tried drinking from a good-quality polycarbonate glass or a PET bottle ... I have!
bev52
says...
1:21pm Fri 1 Mar 13
The youngsters round here smash glass bottles all over the place and it has cost me over £3000 in the past couple of years having glass removed from my dogs feet. Sadly one of my dogs died after having a stroke which I believe happened because he had so many anesthetics to remove the glass in a short space of time. He was only 6yrs old.
Perhaps if all beer was in plastic glasses or bottles then drunk people would have nothing to smash and leave about to injure innocent parties with.
romantic
says...
1:36pm Fri 1 Mar 13
totallyfootball wrote:You make a good point there. I tend to go to what I´d call "proper" pubs, where the landlord/lady knows exactly who is in and can spot any trouble well before it gets to people wanting to glass each other.
I agree with those above but there would be no need for this is people were just in a more responsible manner. Like owners and landlords not just thinking about their pockets and to stop serving those that clearly have had far too much!
I guess this would apply more to the vertical drinking halls in the town centre, where their only real concern is flogging lots of cheap booze. Sadly, those are the places thriving, while proper locals struggle. For those places, it´s probably a realistic measure, for the reasons which various people have outlined.
Justice79
says...
1:42pm Fri 1 Mar 13
Absolute madness have people nothing better to do than come up with these pathetic namby pamby schemes?
karen f
says...
2:26pm Fri 1 Mar 13
Justice79 wrote:Pathetic namby pamby scheme? Let's just say that over 115,000 people have already signed POP-Campaign's petition in favour of this change in the law. This petition was handed in to Downing Street in December last year followed by a presentation at the Home Office given by not only POP-Campaign but Mark Lancaster MP and three uniformed police offers from various forces also. After nearly 8 years of campaigning, this is being looked into very seriously. How many people have been attacked in 8 years, how many have had accidents and sustained injuries in 8 years, how much has it cost the taxpayers, the NHS, the police forces and the judicial system in those 8 years?
So because of a minority of people who feel the need to use glasses as weapons and people that need to take their shoes off in drinking establishments the rest of us are having to drink from a beaker.
Absolute madness have people nothing better to do than come up with these pathetic namby pamby schemes?
POP-Campaign was started because of a glassing attack on a young man doing his job as a doorman at Bar Me nightclub in Milton Keynes. He went to the aid of a female colleague who was trying to eject a trouble-maker and it nearly cost him his life!
Google Blake Golding or POP-Campaign, look at the pictures of him that night.
You are as entitled to your opinion as I am to mine Justice79 but at least do a little research into the subject first!
super waluigi
says...
3:05pm Fri 1 Mar 13
icecoolmark wrote:I am all for this proposal and I drink in the town centre far more than I should.
Those people that are 'pro' this idea probably don't even go out drinking in Colchester, that will include me if I have to drink out of a plastic 'glass'. Why not just serve water too and treat all adults like children... Then wait until all pubs are closed down and re-open as a barbers or nail parlour.
I enjoy all types of drinking. Lagers in the town centre and Real Ales when I am out for dinner etc. I cannot see the late night drinkers minding what their drink is served in.
Football clubs, concerts, Gig nights and other active venues that serve alcohol all use plastic cups and it is accepted by the purchaser. The high street and its bars would fit in nicely.
Feisty CBC
says...
4:06pm Fri 1 Mar 13
Justice79 wrote:I doubt you would call it namby pamby if god forbid you had a glass rammed in your face.
So because of a minority of people who feel the need to use glasses as weapons and people that need to take their shoes off in drinking establishments the rest of us are having to drink from a beaker.
Absolute madness have people nothing better to do than come up with these pathetic namby pamby schemes?
wellnow
says...
4:06pm Fri 1 Mar 13
Boris
says...
5:12pm Fri 1 Mar 13
Couldn't the pubs and clubs adopt the same principle?
karen f
says...
11:19pm Fri 1 Mar 13
Boris
says...
12:44am Sat 2 Mar 13
karen f wrote:Yes I have. I don't mind it at all in venues like outdoor festivals where everyone appreciates glass must not be left lying around to be cleared up.
That's great to hear Boris. Can I ask if you've had a drink in one of the polycarbonate glasses? If so, what did you think?
At the Arts Centre events that I attend (usually folk music or comedy), the beer is served far too cold, so it is a mediocre experience, and anyway you are there for the show rather than the beer, so it doesn't matter. Really I prefer a glass glass, it is aesthetically more pleasing, but I am happy with a polycarbonate one.
I would compare it with making love with or without a condom. Without is more enjoyable, but both partners have to have absolute confidence in each other. With the condom takes away some of the enjoyment, but it is still great fun, and, if you are in any doubt, a lot safer.
So - yes, definitely, polycarbonate for high-risk venues at high-risk times.
Joker50
says...
7:42am Sat 2 Mar 13
icecoolmark
says...
9:39am Sat 2 Mar 13
wellnow
says...
11:22am Sat 2 Mar 13
mummy250271
says...
11:29am Sat 2 Mar 13
icecoolmark wrote:Well if you simply threw your glass (polycarbonate) on the floor once you had finished maybe thats even more of a reason to avoid glass, if that is the mentality in pubs now. Why not simply put your glass (polycarbonate or not) back on a table or bar, would that not be simpler and tidier?
Nanny state..... Drinking out of polycarbonate is still not the same as drinking out of glass. And before you ask, yes I've had drinks in polycarbonate. One thought is that I presumed it was a disposable once id finished my drink and threw it on the floor. I'm sure I'm not the only one that did that as there were hundreds.
25414nora
says...
12:24pm Sat 2 Mar 13
For the rowdy agressive clientelle, (lager louts).. serve them their plastic beer in plastic glasses..
boom boom,,.
karen f
says...
12:32pm Sat 2 Mar 13
It's not just the risk of attacks there are many accidents too, as I have already pointed out above.
It's not about becoming a 'nanny' state it's about adjusting to the changes in our culture.
We all accepted the smoking ban when it was brought in and as has quite rightly been said already, if we attend any sporting venue, festival or concert we are already handed our alcohol in the safer alternatives available and we think nothing of it.
If the law were to be changed and all late night town and city centre pubs and clubs were made to adhere, we would think nothing of that too.
karen f
says...
1:25pm Sat 2 Mar 13
http://epetitions.di
rect.gov.uk/petition
s/43147
icecoolmark
says...
2:11pm Sat 2 Mar 13
mummy250271
says...
3:07pm Sat 2 Mar 13
karen f wrote:Karen your comments make 100% sense. Totally agree with every point you made.
With all the feedback and comments that have been left (good and bad), I think it's safe to say that the majority of you agree and can see why this law needs to change.
It's not just the risk of attacks there are many accidents too, as I have already pointed out above.
It's not about becoming a 'nanny' state it's about adjusting to the changes in our culture.
We all accepted the smoking ban when it was brought in and as has quite rightly been said already, if we attend any sporting venue, festival or concert we are already handed our alcohol in the safer alternatives available and we think nothing of it.
If the law were to be changed and all late night town and city centre pubs and clubs were made to adhere, we would think nothing of that too.
karen f
says...
3:44pm Sat 2 Mar 13
mummy250271 wrote:No icecoolmark I do not drink 'pints' but I do drink alcohol and I have no issues as to whether it comes in a polycarbonate glass or a PET bottle for all the reasons that have been mentioned above.
karen f wrote:Karen your comments make 100% sense. Totally agree with every point you made.
With all the feedback and comments that have been left (good and bad), I think it's safe to say that the majority of you agree and can see why this law needs to change.
It's not just the risk of attacks there are many accidents too, as I have already pointed out above.
It's not about becoming a 'nanny' state it's about adjusting to the changes in our culture.
We all accepted the smoking ban when it was brought in and as has quite rightly been said already, if we attend any sporting venue, festival or concert we are already handed our alcohol in the safer alternatives available and we think nothing of it.
If the law were to be changed and all late night town and city centre pubs and clubs were made to adhere, we would think nothing of that too.
How is it interfering when it will save people being maimed and even killed? Did you have the same opinion when it became law for us all to wear seat belts?
Times are changing, our society is changing and unfortunately that means we have to adapt, whether we like it or not.
I am not forcing anyone to sign the e-petition. I am asking those that agree to sign if they wish.
karen f
says...
3:47pm Sat 2 Mar 13
TheEqualizer1
says...
6:02pm Sat 2 Mar 13
I worked the Doors here in town during the late 70's and early 80's (When real doormen ran the clubs) and I only witnessed 2 incidents, however they were awful. One of them was in the Windmill night club where I had to render aid to the victim:
The gash on his face was life threatening and I could not quantify how long it was due to the extent of the bleeding:
I still have the occasional haunting memory of that evening, the chap lost so much blood I thought he was going to die:
The toilets looked like a scene out of a horror movie.
To be honest in relation to the points in this debate. With the way the town has turned out in the last 20 months and the violence we have read in the local press over this time period, this suggestion may be a good thing to action. I am all for it:
karen f
says...
7:07pm Sat 2 Mar 13
TheEqualizer1 wrote:Thank you and sorry that you are still haunted by the memories of that night. Yet another effect that a glassing attack has on not only the victim, but others too!
If you have ever worked in Night Clubs or Large Venue Gigs such as I have, then you would understand the dangers and horrors of being bottled or glassed by some drunken wimp thug, who has no balls to stand up and defend his issue with his own hands.
I worked the Doors here in town during the late 70's and early 80's (When real doormen ran the clubs) and I only witnessed 2 incidents, however they were awful. One of them was in the Windmill night club where I had to render aid to the victim:
The gash on his face was life threatening and I could not quantify how long it was due to the extent of the bleeding:
I still have the occasional haunting memory of that evening, the chap lost so much blood I thought he was going to die:
The toilets looked like a scene out of a horror movie.
To be honest in relation to the points in this debate. With the way the town has turned out in the last 20 months and the violence we have read in the local press over this time period, this suggestion may be a good thing to action. I am all for it:
karen f
says...
9:24pm Sat 2 Mar 13
In addition to the considerable health care costs of managing glass related injuries, over a quarter of victims of facial wounds experience serious post-traumatic stress reaction, requiring long-term follow up.
Counselling is not normally provided, it is something the victim has to organise, and pay for, themselves!
Justice79
says...
9:20am Sun 3 Mar 13
Feisty CBC wrote:This silly scheme isn't going to prevent assaults though is it?
Justice79 wrote:I doubt you would call it namby pamby if god forbid you had a glass rammed in your face.
So because of a minority of people who feel the need to use glasses as weapons and people that need to take their shoes off in drinking establishments the rest of us are having to drink from a beaker.
Absolute madness have people nothing better to do than come up with these pathetic namby pamby schemes?
It's a sledgehammer to crack a walnut, a huge hassle to licencees and at the end of the day something we have managed without for many many years.
More people are injured slipping on ice each year so lets rip up all the pavements and replace them with crash mats just to be on the safe side eh?
icecoolmark
says...
10:39am Sun 3 Mar 13
icecoolmark
says...
10:42am Sun 3 Mar 13
Justice79 wrote:Well said, a polycarbonate beaker will still make a good weapon too.
Feisty CBC wrote:This silly scheme isn't going to prevent assaults though is it?
Justice79 wrote:I doubt you would call it namby pamby if god forbid you had a glass rammed in your face.
So because of a minority of people who feel the need to use glasses as weapons and people that need to take their shoes off in drinking establishments the rest of us are having to drink from a beaker.
Absolute madness have people nothing better to do than come up with these pathetic namby pamby schemes?
It's a sledgehammer to crack a walnut, a huge hassle to licencees and at the end of the day something we have managed without for many many years.
More people are injured slipping on ice each year so lets rip up all the pavements and replace them with crash mats just to be on the safe side eh?
karen f
says...
11:05am Sun 3 Mar 13
Justice79 wrote:We will never be able to prevent assaults on others unfortunately and we are not suggesting in any way that a change in the law would do that, but where POP-Campaign have been successful so far, the licensing authorities in those areas have given them grants to make the transition from glass to polycarbonate so as to ease their financial burden. As I have already said, the use of these safer alternatives is actually cost-neutral and if you take on board all the other savings these establishments would make (also mentioned above), it would actually be very benficial too them.
Feisty CBC wrote:This silly scheme isn't going to prevent assaults though is it?
Justice79 wrote:I doubt you would call it namby pamby if god forbid you had a glass rammed in your face.
So because of a minority of people who feel the need to use glasses as weapons and people that need to take their shoes off in drinking establishments the rest of us are having to drink from a beaker.
Absolute madness have people nothing better to do than come up with these pathetic namby pamby schemes?
It's a sledgehammer to crack a walnut, a huge hassle to licencees and at the end of the day something we have managed without for many many years.
More people are injured slipping on ice each year so lets rip up all the pavements and replace them with crash mats just to be on the safe side eh?
I have given you facts and figures from government sources regarding glass crime and payouts for accidents.
If you choose to go walking in icy conditions, that is YOUR choice and you do it knowing what the consequences might be. As far as I'm aware, nobody goes out to enjoy an evening with their friends and family to have a piece of glass used as a weapon against them?
karen f
says...
11:51am Sun 3 Mar 13
icecoolmark wrote:Can you please give me some statistics to back-up the fact that more people are dying because of what's in polycarbonate or PET bottles? I would love to see them as I can't find any.
Funny that, because when it come to ME wearing a seatbelt, I believe it should be MY choice, it's MY life. If I had the choice, I wouldn't wear one! More people are dying because of what's in the glass, plastic beakers etc than being attacked with them. The same can be said for smoking. Much like the cost of cigarettes, people will always find the money to smoke. The same will be for people who want to attack someone with a weapon, if they can't use a glass they will use a pool cue, a chair, a knife or whatever else that can lay their hands on. Personally, I would never attack someone with a weapon and, like the majority of 'town pub & club' users, I stay out of trouble. Door staff know the risks, they take the job knowing that they could be attacked. Look at what happened at TJ's last year, that wasn't a glass was it?
What I have found is this:
'Do PET bottles or containers contain BPA?
No. PET does not contain BPA. Bisphenol-A (BPA) is a compound used in polycarbonate, a different type of plastic that is sometimes used in baby bottles, the lining of metal cans and reusable sports bottles. PET does not contain BPA and never has.'
'Is PET safe?
PET has been approved as safe for contact with foodstuffs and beverages by the FDA, Health Canada, th European Food Safety Authority and virtually every other health-safety agency in the world. It has been used for food and beverage containers for decades without any known adverse effects. Extensive studies of PET and PET packaging have repeatedly shown it to be safe.'
Also a glass or bottle is the most likely weapon chosen as it is already in your hand should a confrontation arise. It is a split-second decision that is made when you use it, you haven't had to go looking for a pool cue or a chair or any other item of furniture and as far as I know there are not over 80,000 people attacked with such items? As for knife crime, we know this is an increasing problem in our society also.
'During the year to June 2012 there were approximately 29,613 recorded offences involving knives or other sharp instruments, accounting for 7% of selected offences, a similar proportion to previous years. The number of knife offences recorded was 9% lower than in the preceding year.' (Taken from the House of Commons Library).
In England and Wales firearms were reportedly used in 11,227 offences, 0.3% of all recorded crimes. (Taken from the House of Commons Libray).
Both these figures, released by the government, are nowhere near as high as glass crime!
karen f
says...
12:11pm Sun 3 Mar 13
Polycarbonate is a versatile, tough plastic used for a variety of applications, from bulletproof windows to compact disks (CDs). The main advantage of this material over other types of plastic is its great strength combined with light weight. While acrylic is 17% stronger than glass, polycarbonate is nearly unbreakable. Bulletproof windows and enclosures as seen inside banks or at drive-throughs are often made of this plastic. Add to this the advantage that it is just 1/3 the weight of acrylic, or 1/6 as heavy as glass.
Riot shields, contact lenses, glass lenses, safety glasses for the construction industry are just a few examples of where polycarbonate is already used.
If you are partial to YouTube then please search for Richard Hammond trying to break a polycarbonate items, if that doesn't convince you on how strong it is, nothing will! The link is below.
http://www.youtube.c
om/watch?v=qc2K0-Ba-
qs
Boris
says...
5:47pm Sun 3 Mar 13
karen f wrote:I had never heard of this campaign but I have now signed the petition Thanks, Karen; for bringing it to our attention.
Please sign and share POP-Campaign's e-petition with all you know. This is purely a back-up but if the Home Office do reject the original petition handed in, in December, we need another 100,000 signatures to show we are not going away ... thank you.
http://epetitions.di
rect.gov.uk/petition
s/43147
karen f
says...
7:05pm Sun 3 Mar 13
Carlosfandangles
says...
10:58pm Sun 3 Mar 13
whilst I actually agree its a good thing, your total domination of the thread and quoting this that and the other is exactly the type of interference that turns quite a few people off supporting the idea.
its not only town centre pubs that have glassings.......
anyway its a good idea but less moralising please in my book. no offence intended.
karen f
says...
11:15pm Sun 3 Mar 13
romantic
says...
10:14am Mon 4 Mar 13
icecoolmark wrote:The thing is that most glass attacks are done in the heat of the moment. If somebody knows their glass will not do the job, perhaps they would search around for something else, but those few seconds could be enough to defuse the situation a bit.
Funny that, because when it come to ME wearing a seatbelt, I believe it should be MY choice, it's MY life. If I had the choice, I wouldn't wear one! More people are dying because of what's in the glass, plastic beakers etc than being attacked with them. The same can be said for smoking. Much like the cost of cigarettes, people will always find the money to smoke. The same will be for people who want to attack someone with a weapon, if they can't use a glass they will use a pool cue, a chair, a knife or whatever else that can lay their hands on. Personally, I would never attack someone with a weapon and, like the majority of 'town pub & club' users, I stay out of trouble. Door staff know the risks, they take the job knowing that they could be attacked. Look at what happened at TJ's last year, that wasn't a glass was it?
If somebody is that pumped up that they want a fight, doesn´t matter who with, then they probably will do. But a substantial number of glassings will be done almost as a reflex action, without thinking about it.
It is very much the case that 99.9% of people in the town centre are not running around glassing people, but even if it´s just 0.1%, that´s a few per weekend. If the figures are as high as karenf suggests, and i see no reason to doubt that, there probably is a case for this in the busy places. Sad that a few people who can´t handle their drink means restrictions for everybody, but I´ve seen glassings before and they can be nasty. If it reduces that, so be it.
icecoolmark
says...
10:16am Mon 4 Mar 13
karen f
says...
10:57am Mon 4 Mar 13
Yes, there are roughly 30,000 people dying from alcohol-related diseases per year in the UK, but again, it's our choice to put that alcohol in our body, and it's our choice to smoke ... we don't get a choice if someone wishes to use their glass or bottle as a weapon against us.
icecoolmark
says...
10:21am Tue 5 Mar 13
karen f wrote:I beg to differ on your comment regarding choice. While I appreciate there are some mindless idiots out there that would just pick on any innocent individual, most people that are being injured with weapons aren't exactly angels and are probably responsible, in part, for any violence that occurs. I am pretty sure that if I were to go into ANY town pub this coming weekend I could avoid 'that type' of violence, simply by being a mature, sensible adult. Why make everyone suffer because of a very very very small proportion of pub/club clientele? What they should do is make the punishments for this type of crime, harder.
Apologies for misunderstanding your point concerning alcohol deaths and not 'plastic' deaths icecoolmark.
Yes, there are roughly 30,000 people dying from alcohol-related diseases per year in the UK, but again, it's our choice to put that alcohol in our body, and it's our choice to smoke ... we don't get a choice if someone wishes to use their glass or bottle as a weapon against us.
karen f
says...
11:43am Tue 5 Mar 13
Bobby Walker
says...
12:47pm Tue 5 Mar 13
I was told it is much more expensive than glass. Is that true? If it is more expensive, then does that mean a more expensive pint? Karen, do you know what the costs are? If you can demonstrate that insurance premiums will fall as a result then that might offset the cost.
karen f
says...
11:11pm Tue 5 Mar 13
The difference, as it stands at the moment, is in pence, not £'s. I am not a licensee and I won't pretend to know how much they pay for their glasses, but I have spoken to a nightclub manager from Northampton and as an example, he pays roughly £1.05 per 9oz polycarbonate glass (a half-pint being 10oz). The Northampton pubs and clubs were helped by the council giving them £7,000 to start the ball rolling. It took one nightclub only a month to be fully polycarbonate, which gives you an idea of how many glasses get broken! Polycarbonate may cost slightly more initially but the savings involved add up and it soon becomes cost-neutral. I have been assured by the licensing officer in Northampton that none of the venues raised their drink prices when the change took place.
Polycarbonate lasts far longer than glass (tests show they will last up to, and beyond 500 dishwasher cycles with little or no change in their appearance). Are lighter to stack and carry which means a shorter period of time to clear up at the end of a night, saving wages. Will reduce public liability insurance claims. Insurers of pubs and clubs operate a no-claims bonus scheme just as car insurers do. The need to replace dance floors and bar areas as often is also reduced. Small shards of glass caught in these areas can cause nasty injuries to both staff and patrons.
icecoolmark
says...
10:18am Wed 6 Mar 13
karen f
says...
12:13pm Wed 6 Mar 13
2002 - 18-year old female attacked by another female in a high street nightclub. Hit with a glass bottle over the head. Hospital treatment given. Exact time unknown.
2003 - Male attacked by another male in a North Hill venue. Attacked with a glass in the face. Hospital treatment given for a cut under the eye. Time of attack was 10.25pm.
2004 - Male attacked by another male in a high street nightclub. Hit on the side of the head with a bottle. Hospital treatment given for a cut near his temple. Exact time of attack unknown.
2005 - 2011 No reported incidents in town centre found.
2012 (May) - 1 male and 1 female bystander attacked after a fight broke out between four or five males in a Head Street venue. Both received hospital treatment, the male was knocked unconscious and received a cut to his head. The female also received head injuries. Time of attack was 10.30pm.
2012 (October) - Female attacked by a male with a bottle at Essex University campus. Hospital treatment given for arm injuries. Time of attack was around 3.30am. (I have included this as we are also hoping to encourage student bars to become glass-free venues).
2012 (October) - Male attacked by another male with a broken glass in a Queen Street venue. Hospital treatment give for facial wounds. Time of attack was 12.30am.
2012 (December) - 3 males attacked by 5 men with a bottle in the High Street area. 1 male received cuts to his hand. Treatment given by the SOS bus. Time of attack was 3.50am.
2012 (December) - Female attacked by a male in a Vineyard Street nightclub. Attacked with a champagne bottle being thrown at her after a row had broken out previously. Hospital treatment given for a cut above her left eye. Time of attack was 1.30am.
All the above have been previously reported but I have also been made aware of an unreported attack in November 2012. Male attacked by another male with a bottle within a High Street nightclub. Treatment given within first aid room of the club and then stitches to cut above his eye by the SOS bus. Exact time of attack unknown.
Carlosfandangles
says...
5:41pm Wed 6 Mar 13
hardly cause for widespread changes as one would imagine in that time there has probably been more injuries involving trip and slip but you are not advocating banning all fluids. I appreciate your sentiments and passion on the subject but I am more concerned about individual clubs serving people to excess and the fisticuffs that originate from that rather than being glassed.
karen f
says...
6:27pm Wed 6 Mar 13
Between 2002-2012 we have had 8 reported glassing attacks and 1 unreported with 10 victims.
Six of those attacks with 7 victims were all in 2012. I would say that's a big cause for concern.
Noah4x4
says...
9:23am Thu 7 Mar 13
If a glass isn't available as a weapon, surely something else equally dangerous will come to hand for these people, so what else do we propose to ban? Stilleto shoes? Metal combs?
Surely common sense must prevail and a voluntary code. In night clubs, mass events, sports events and similar, yes, one accepts the need for compromise and non-glass alternatives. Similarly, glasses should not be permitted "outside". But in the type of pub frequented by CAMRA members, can we not trust the judgement of the landlord to determine the container?
karen f
says...
10:33am Thu 7 Mar 13
As for yet another suggestion of "what else do we propose to ban?", both I, and others, have covered that point before.
icecoolmark
says...
1:35pm Thu 7 Mar 13
thegreenman
says...
1:39pm Thu 7 Mar 13
karen f
says...
3:12pm Thu 7 Mar 13
I cannot comment on the other statistics as I simply don't have them.
There are two campaigns for knife crime in this area, Only Cowards Carry in the memory of Jay Whiston and the Gazette's Lives not Knives, both of which I fully support.
The amount of products available in PET bottles would increase if this were rolled out nationally. So far I have found 18 products sold in PET.
The 'thinking through' part is being done, right now, by the Home Office. The petition was handed in last December, it is now in their hands, not mine.
I have brought POP-Campaign to the attention of Colchester Police, the Essex PCC Nick Alston, Sir Bob Russell, Tim Young and CBC's licensing unit because I feel that this is a problem not only for Colchester, but nationwide but it is not down to me personally to make any decisions regarding this. I am just trying to raise awareness of this crime and have answered as factually as I can all questions and I've been honest enough to admit when I can't so as to give everyone a chance to make up their own minds.
For those that are in favour, thank you. For those of you that are not, we shall agree to disagree.
Carlosfandangles
says...
5:43pm Thu 7 Mar 13
However, I am sure that many people will agree that once again the actions of the minority ruin it for all. How many people enjoyed a peaceful pint in 2002 - 2012 during that time without the need to glass someone. Yes the sentiments are genuine and any rational person would agree that its a good idea. If so attractive to landlords, clubs et al, why are they not doing voluntarily.
Also, unfortunately a campaign of this nature just creates the opportunity for more nanny state meddling by the (or any) govt.
Going about my daily life, I am more concerned about elderly motorists who are clearly not fit to drive, I am more concerned about irresponsible dog owners (I bet more people have been injured by dogs in this period), I am more concerned about feral kids who have no respect for anything or anyone, I am more concerned at meddlesome council officials who are doing their best to wreck our town and make everyone destitute in the rush to achieve a "legacy", I am more worried that my son will have no opportunities available to him when he leaves school in 5 years time..... unfortunately, majority should not pander to the minority. I got hit in my car by a man in a white van last year.....the van was white for sure - thats at least half a dozen this year in Essex methinks - perhaps we should have a campaign against them. I am not being flippant Karen only that campaigns such as this are gleefully latched on to by jobsworths who do nothing all day apart from justify their existence.
icecoolmark
says...
7:39pm Thu 7 Mar 13
icecoolmark
says...
7:40pm Thu 7 Mar 13
ColchesterBelgian says...
9:50am Fri 1 Mar 13
Not only does it stop people using them as weapons.
They create less mess and danger from cuts etc when dropped/thrown on the floor!