Humberside police have distributed thousands of shatterproof pint glasses to pubs and clubs across the region in an attempt to reduce glassing injuries as drunken violence increases over the festive period.
Police estimate that each such incident costs the health and emergency services more than £500,000, and say the polycarbonate cups are less likely to cause lifelong scarring and blindness if used as a weapon.
Insp Alex Weeks from Humberside police community safety said the scheme meant that those costs were significantly reduced “and most importantly, people who would now have impaired vision do not.
“The polycarbonate rollout project has been partnership working at its best and provided excellent value for money, and has undoubtedly helped keep people safe on nights out,” Weeks said.
The polycarbonate cups last up to four times longer than their glass counterparts, and are more efficient due to less breakage, fewer replacement costs, easier stacking and insulating qualities.
The scheme has been funded by a £10,000 grant from the Humberside police and crime commissioner, Keith Hunter, who urged more venues to take part in the project.
“[There] are still many licensed establishments which do not use them and I hope this latest campaign will encourage them to do so. The benefits to everyone are obvious and the investment made is very worthwhile compared to the potential damage caused.”
Police have been distributing the glasses to venues in Hull and east Yorkshire since 2008, but this year they are inscribed with messages urging both victims and witnesses of domestic abuse to report it to the authorities.
Slogans on the side of the glasses urge drinkers to “Speak out, we will listen”, “Don’t ignore domestic abuse” and include the hashtag #YouMatter.
DCI Phil Gadd, part of the Protecting Vulnerable People Unit, said that the police were trying to get family and friends to play their part by calling the force if they suspected a loved one was the perpetrator or victim of domestic assault. “The message is simple – don’t ignore domestic abuse,” he said.
According to Alcohol Concern, drink-related crime in the UK is estimated to cost between £8bn and £13bn a year.
Humberside police distribute shatterproof pint glasses to pubs
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