Boroughs create tool to assess alcohol-related health and crime data

Two London councils have developed a tool to assess alcohol-related health and crime data, allowing them to link public health priorities with licensing objectives for the first time.

Camden and Islington said a digital map assesses levels of crime, ambulance call-outs and alcohol-specific hospital admissions.

The councils, which share a public health team, said that the data was used to determine whether objections should be made against applications for pubs and off-licences in areas where there are concerns about alcohol-related harm.

There are currently more than 3,200 licensed premises in the two boroughs.

The public health team is reported to have already used the data to make representations on more than 15 applications for alcohol licences.

Cllr Janet Burgess, Islington's executive member for health and wellbeing, said: "Tackling health inequality and improving residents' wellbeing is a key priority for both councils – so we are concerned by the rising rates of alcohol-related hospital admissions.”