Alcohol-fuelled violence focus of Aberdeen meeting

STV

Alcohol-fuelled violence and disorder in Aberdeen will be the focus of a meeting held in the city on Monday.

The summit, which was called by local councillor and licensing board member Bill Comrie is expected to concentrate on licensees who sell drink to those who are already intoxicated.

Cllr Cormie has been out in Aberdeen at the weekend with Grampian Police several times over the last decade.

He said: "This last time was the worst. I witnessed a young lady putting her heel through a doorman's eye.  I saw a knife attack on a Polish guy - they were all horrible things.

“But other than the horrific things that were seen, you know the whole of the town was just sort of on a knifes edge. It was scary to be in."

Cllr Comrie says a tougher stance needs to be taken with some licence holders in the city.

He said: “It’s not a right to hold a licence, it’s a privilege. The police and the licence board have got to work together to identify these licensees who are serving drink to drunks.

Recent police figures on violence and antisocial behaviour saw Aberdeen city centre tagged the “worst crime beat in Scotland”.

A 2am curfew implemented in the city in recent months has seemingly backfired after police figures showed that alcohol-related violence and disorder had increased since its introduction.

Representatives from the emergency services and licensees and licensing boards will be among the 40 different organisations and individuals who will gather to find solutions to the problem.

The meeting is scheduled to start at Aberdeen Town House at 4.30pm on Monday.