§ Baroness Fisher of Rednalasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they are funding any research or studies relating to those persons whose criminal activities are directly attributable to drink dependency or the influence of alcohol.
§ Lord EltonIt is difficult to establish a causal connection between the consumption of alcohol and the commission of criminal offences, but the Home Office is involved in a number of projects whose aim is,762WA broadly, to explore the problems of offenders whose involvement in criminal activity may be linked with drinking.
A project is being carried out by the Home Office to evaluate the use of overnight shelters as a means of coping with drunkenness without resort to arrest; the British Crime Survey includes the self-reporting by respondents of their drinking habits and offending, which may allow some further analysis of the possible links between drinking habits and proneness to commit crime; and the Home Office Research and Planning Unit is investigating to what extent offences of violence are centred around licensed premises.