This is an historic document in British politics: the first time in over half a century two parties have come together to put forward a programme for partnership government. . . . . . .
6. CRIME AND POLICING
The Government believes that we need radical action to reform our criminal justice system. We need police forces that have greater freedom from Ministerial control and are better able to deal with the crime and anti-social behaviour that blights people’s lives, but which are much more accountable to the public they serve.
• We will ban the sale of alcohol below cost price.
• We will review alcohol taxation and pricing to ensure it tackles binge drinking without unfairly penalising responsible drinkers, pubs and important local industries.
• We will overhaul the Licensing Act to give local authorities and the police much stronger powers to remove licences from, or refuse to grant licences to, any premises that are causing problems.
• We will allow councils and the police to shut down permanently any shop or bar found to be persistently selling alcohol to children.
• We will double the maximum fine for under-age alcohol sales to £20,000.
• We will permit local councils to charge more for late-night licences to pay for additional policing.
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