South Wales Police have launched a campaign on the eve what officers anticipate will be their busiest weekend during the festive period, to try and curb levels alcohol related violence.
The hard hitting campaign has been designed to make late night revellers think carefully about their personal safety over the weekend and into the New Year, and to contemplate the potential consequences of their actions.
Artistic imagery depicting a man and a woman being assaulted by alcohol itself, coupled with the key message “Instant Aggression – Just add alcohol” are being prominently placed in bars and nightclubs throughout both the Swansea and Cardiff areas. They also carry the startling statistic that shows almost half of all violent assaults in England and Wales are alcohol related.
Mirror stickers which place partygoers behind bars or in a police cell are also being used in washroom areas, carrying the message ‘Instant Regret- Just add alcohol’.
Commenting on the campaign South Wales Police Superintendent Steve Furnham said:
“Alcohol, and too much of it, can make for a potentially lethal cocktail, and can make even the mildest person act out of character and become aggressive …with often devastating results.
“Many people will also have, at some point in their lives, woken after a ‘few too many’ the night before, feeling an instant regret about something they said or did.
“Unfortunately the police can only do so much to prevent alcohol related crime and anti social behaviour – however the individual always has a choice; to stop drinking; to walk away from a fight; not to get behind the wheel of a car when they know they are over the limit.
“This campaign seeks to encourage people to consider their choices carefully, but also to reinforce the message that if you do choose to ignore these warnings, you could very well find yourself in a police cell or behind bars.”
Police Officers across the force area will be carrying out high visibility patrols this weekend to offer reassurance and make sure that those intent on causing trouble and spoiling the festivities for others are dealt with accordingly.
Supt. Furnham later added:
“Police officers do not want to spoil people’s fun; we just want them to enjoy themselves safely. Please drink sensibly this weekend and don’t let alcohol turn you into a victim or a criminal this year.”
