Three Strikes - One Year Anniversary

Kent Police in the Dover District is celebrating the first anniversary of the Three Strikes scheme, which is cutting alcohol-related crime.

Since the initiative was launched on 28 November 2005, 246 yellow cards have been issued and 12 people have received a six month ban from licensed premises.

The Three Strikes scheme is a partnership initiative of Kent Police involving Dover District Council, Dover Partnership Against Crime (DPAC) and local Licensees.

It has now been adopted by many other policing areas in Kent.

When a person commits an offence while under the influence of alcohol they are issued a Yellow Card warning them of their behaviour and also offering advice regarding alcohol abuse.

If they commit a further relevant offence in a rolling 12 month period, the offender receives a red card and their details are passed to DPAC, who then excludes that person on behalf of the licensees from all members of DPAC.

If an offender commits a further offence within the rolling 12 months the person is at risk of receiving an Anti Social Behaviour Order, which could ban them from town centres in the evenings.

The re-offending rate from receiving a Yellow Card to receiving a Red Card and being banned is 5.15%. Additionally the data has shown that alcohol fuelled offending in Dover Town centre has been reduced by 20%.

PC Leigh Woolnough who co-ordinates the scheme said: "Three strikes is a big success and another example of how Kent Police's focus on neighbourhood policing and working together is helping to reduce crime, and the fear of crime, and making the area an even safer place to live."

"As the scheme enters its second year, more and more people will be aware that alcohol fuelled violence is not acceptable and those responsible will be dealt with rigorously".