Police Chief Backed In Drive To Cut Weekend Booze Nightmare For Residents

1.06.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 2nd Jun 2004

Richmond's new police chief Ian Edwards has been given the thumbs up by Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Richmond Park, Susan Kramer, in his priorities for cracking down on weekend drunken behaviour.

" I back him all the way , said Susan Kramer.' " Richmond town centre has a real problem with binge drinking at the weekend.

"Everyone has the right to have a good time at the weekend and chill out but not at the expense of aggressive behaviour which ruins it for everyone else.

" He is right to want to make this a big priority and his ideas for extending the role of Police Community Safety Officers to help tackle bad behaviour caused by excessive drinking is on the right track.

" PCSOs have been welcomed as a valuable additional resource for policing communities.

"Having them out on the streets in the late evenings on Friday and Saturday to nip problems in the bud will make a real change. Its a good start for really getting to grips with this issue."