Crime Reduction: Good v Evil, Alcohol Campaign

Good versus Evil is the theme for a new campaign aimed at tackling alcohol fuelled crime and disorder over the festive period.

The campaign, involving advertisements on local radio and buses in Gloucestershire, starts today (December 1).

County Crime Reduction Officer Paul Francis said: “Crimes such as assaults and criminal damage traditionally increase in the run up to Christmas and during the festive period itself.

“Many of these crimes are committed because the people involved have been drinking to excess, and the consequences for both the perpetrators and victims can be devastating.

“Victims may spend their Christmas recovering from injuries, arranging repairs or replacing damaged property, and the offenders themselves will have the prospect of a court case hanging over them, as well as the consequent impact on their home life, finances and careers.

“We all want to enjoy the festivities safely, and we are simply asking people to think before losing control of themselves and ruining their own Christmas and that of others.

“The message we want to get across is that a good night out is great for everyone, but an evil night out can lead to something that will stay with you for the rest of your life.”

Figures compiled by the Constabulary show that, on average, 4.5 more violent crimes are committed per day between December 21 and January 3 than during the rest of the year.

There are also 6.4 more instances of criminal damage recorded per day during that period than at other times of the year.