November 23rd 2005
Product of the Week Archive Here
WPC
Software’s 'Inn Keeper' Serves Three Forces
Police
in Norfolk, Bedfordshire and Humberside are enlisting the help of an 'Inn
Keeper' to combat alcohol-fuelled violence as new licensing laws come
into force.
The computer software programme records all information related to a licensed
premises including incidents of alcohol-related violence and disorder,
police visits, under-age or after hours drinking, and other breaches of
licensing conditions.
Officers
can also input information required under the new Act, such as information
on alcohol and non-alcohol operating hours, and details about premises
including the location of fire exits and crowd capacity.
The Act allows pubs and bars to stay open for up to 24 hours, and combines
alcohol and entertainment licences into one single licence.
Inspector Bob Crombie of Norfolk Police, who is responsible for licensing
policy and for the introduction of Inn Keeper, said: ‘Inn Keeper
will enable all staff in the constabulary, for the first time, to know
instantly under what terms and conditions licensed premises are operating.
This will include opening hours, what licensable activities are allowed,
details of designated premises supervisors and owners of the premises.
Sergeant Frank Fender, a licensing officer with Bedfordshire Police, said:
‘The data contained on Inn Keeper will enable us to be more efficient
and effective in our work with others to combat crime, disorder and antisocial
behaviour. Inn Keeper will help us to target the right premises and help
them reduce such incidents - this is vital in helping us deliver a quality
service to the world of licensing.’
Inspector Steve Page of Humberside Police said: ‘Not only is Inn
Keeper a useful administration tool allowing the input of the hours, events
and incidents relating to the premises for example, but a web-based program
provides data access to frontline staff on a 24/7 basis to assist them
with their supervision of premises.
‘In this new era where a fundamental change in the licensing law
means monitoring premises more closely to help to measure the impact on
policing in general in our cities and towns, Inn Keeper will significantly
reduce the burden of scouring through paper records and to help make quick
decisions.’
All premises that supply alcohol, entertainment and late night refreshment
have to apply for a licence under the new updated Licensing Act 2003 which
comes into force on November 24th this year.
Inn Keeper is produced by WPC Software Ltd
http://www.wpcsoft.com/products/innkeep.htm