By Paul Reoch

A CONTROVERSIAL plan to create a drinking den for alcoholics in Perth is opposed by the chief of police in Perth.

The idea of a “wet house” has been mooted by some members of Perth and Kinross Council following complaints by members of the public, but yesterday Chief Superintendent Matt Hamilton told The Courier he feels there needs to be an “educated debate” on the matter.

The Courier highlighted the situation last week when a visitor to Perth said he was “appalled” at being met by town centre drunks.

If the drinking den plan comes to fruition it would result in alcoholics, who are not allowed to drink in their accommodation, having a place to congregate and drink instead of on the streets.

But Mr Hamilton said this could be a recipe for disaster.

“The drinking den was tried out in Dundee at the Cyrenians and it was a nightmare,” he said.

“It is best to keep the alcoholics apart in their separate accommodation in the town centre.

“If you have a ‘wet house’ where there are about 20-odd alcoholics drinking in the one room you can imagine what happens.”

He continued, “There needs to be an educated debate about this.

“There has to be much more than just saying ‘lock them up’ and issuing fixed penalties.

“People who are homeless and unemployed will not pay these.”

And he feels that his officers are left to “pick up the pieces” when dealing with alcoholics.

He said, “There was one incident where a male defecated over a wall opposite a hairdresser’s in Perth town centre during the day. Imagine a visitor coming to Perth and witnessing this—there is no way they would come back.

“Our officers have to deal with this, by arresting them and cleaning them up.”

But he added, “To suggest that locking them up, day after day, will solve the problem is nonsense.

“It is not safe to lock alcoholics up in a police cell over a period of time—it’s dangerous. They will be coming off alcohol and suffering from delirium tremens.”

He continued, “The social workers who look after the alcoholics are doing their very best.”

And Inspector David Barclay, head of Perth operations, highlighted the extent of the problem by revealing that 130 drunk and incapable people were brought into custody at Barrack Street.

“90% of those had been arrested on the streets of Perth,” he said. “These people are coming here as basically a last resort and tying up police staff.”

He added, “There is little point in issuing a fixed penalty notice as most have an alcohol-related problem and direct their finances to this other than paying a fine, which would thereafter result in the issue of a warrant, again tying up custody staff and ultimately prison staff.

“Between April and August this year we have issued 67 fixed penalty notices for drinking in public, and 137 for urinating. These are clearly related and show the effects on resources.”

And he said it is a problem not just confined to Perth.

“Everywhere in the UK that has beautiful areas is blighted by this type of behaviour,” he said.

“I have experienced it in Cheltenham and Stafford.”

Perth and Kinross Council’s community safety committee last week agreed to renew bye-laws banning drinking in public.

Councillor Willie Robertson said, “We rely heavily on tourism in Perth and this paints the wrong impression of what is a thriving centre. We need to find some way of addressing this problem and the idea of a wet house is one that we are looking to take forward.”

The idea was backed by MSP Murdo Fraser, while MSP Roseanna Cunningham thought it “worthy of consideration.”