"We have a disproportionate problem in London in country that already has a problem with alcohol, with something like 50 per cent more crimes per thousand in London than rest of country," Kit Malthouse, London Deputy Mayor, Today Programme, 27 October.

Background

London Mayor Boris Johnson is urging the Government to grant him the powers to trial a new strategy aimed at cutting alcohol-related crime.

The Mayor is seeking to implement a policy used in South Dakota, were those convicted of crimes involving alcohol are forced to take a test morning and night to check they have been staying sober.

Promoting the idea this morning, Deputy Mayor Kit Malthouse argued that the scheme was needed in London given the position of the capital as a centre for drink-fuelled law breaking.

So what do the figures say?

Analysis

In short, the figures check out. Research conducted by academics at Liverpool John Moores University has produced local alcohol profiles (LAPE) across England’s council and NHS trust areas.

The analysis takes in a range of metrics for the role played by alcohol on society, one of which being crimes involving alcohol. (For their definition of alcohol-related crime, see the footnotes on this page).

The figures for 2010 show that while the average for England was 8.4 crimes per 1000 in the population, the rate for London was 12.2, backing up Mr Malthouse.

Nor is the figure necessarily a flash in the pan, given that numbers of the previous year show a similar proportion for both London and England. LAPE figures for previous years are not available.

But how much does Mr Malthouse’s statement really tell us about how particular role of alcohol in the capital’s crime?

While the figure for London is well above the national average, so too is it in most other urban centres - suggesting this could be urban rather than metropolitan alcohol problem.

In Manchester the number of drink-related crimes was 14.5 per 1000, and in Bristol it was 14.1. Other places above the London average were Leicester with 15.1 crimes per 1000 while in Slough it was 16.4 per cent.

But even against these other hotspots of drink-induced illegality London still comes off looking worst.

Seven of the ten highest alcohol crimes rates and thirteen of the top 20 are London boroughs, suggesting on these figures at least that Mr Malthouse may have a point.

Conclusion

Even taking into account the alcohol-related crime rates in other majors English urban centres, it appears Londoners still seem to be some of the worst offenders for crimes linked to drink.
 
The only quibble is that Mr Malthouse’s wording claiming the rate for London is 50 per cent higher than ‘the rest of country’ could be construed as stating London is far and away the worst place for alcohol-related crime.

But by and large the data puts London – and the City of London in particular – high on the list, suggesting the Mayor’s motivation in seeking to tackle the issue.

But whether Mr Johnson will get the chance to try to change this using his preferred method remains to be seen.