If a pub refuses to follow the police dictat, the police was ask for the pub's licence to be revoked.
Since when was it in the police's remit to make laws?
Are they out of control?
Ban pint glasses to make our pubs safer, say police
POLICE are urging landlords to abandon the traditional pint glass.They are asking pubs, clubs and bars to call time on glass in a bid to stop drinkers using it as a weapon. Instead they want them to use glasses made from polycarbonate,which is safer as it is much harder to break.
Already all establishments in Fareham have been sent letters urging them to make the switch to plastic – or face the consequences if trouble erupts on their premises.
Now the same is happening in Gosport and Havant and police in Portsmouth are also discussing a similar move.
Inspector Jon Snook, from Portsmouth Central police station, said: 'It's a positive step forward. Anything we can do to reduce violent attacks through bottling and glassing is advantageous.'
But Iain Loe, research and information manager at the CAMRA, a campaign group for real ale and traditional pubs, was furious at the news.
He said: 'We feel that it just downgrades the quality of beer. I think it affects the way it tastes.
'It's just like serving a good Claret from a paper cup – it's just something you don't do.
'The idea that all problems will be solved by replacing all glasses with plastic is wrong.
'If someone is going to smash someone's face and they haven't got a glass, that won't stop them, they will just use a chair, or anything nearby.'
If a glassing is reported in a pub that has been sent a letter, the management will be hauled in front of a council licensing panel.
The police will then request that the pub's licence is revoked.
If the panel doesn't agree, police can request changes, ranging from imposing the glass ban, to reducing opening hours or increasing bouncers at the premises.
The polycarbonate glasses will set a pub back £36 for a pack of 48. The glass equivalent costs just £15, although branded glasses are normally given to pubs for free by breweries.
Brian Hardy, clinical team leader at Portsmouth ambulance station, welcomed the move, saying paramedics had to deal with a glassing almost every week.
'It would be a very good positive move. It would avoid some really nasty facial injuries,' he added.
'Glassing is an aggressive move to go for someone's face with a bottle or a glass.
'It's psychologically distressing and if it's not dealt with straight away it can leave permanent scars.
'I'd want to see this is place as quickly as possible.'