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Glass attacks in city centre pubs drop
GLASSING attacks in Sheffield pubs and clubs have halved since plastic glasses were introduced in most city centre premises.
Figures compiled by South Yorkshire Police show between July 2009 and January this year there were just 24 reported glassings - compared to 41 over the same period 12 months earlier.
Plastic glasses were trialled in six city centre pubs and clubs in February last year when South Yorkshire Police bought 6,000 worth to be used on a busy student night.
Sheffield's Drug and Alcohol Action Team, which delivers the national drug and alcohol strategies in the city, then bought another 57,000 worth of the glasses.
Staff donated the plastic glasses to around 80 licensed premises across the city last July.
The vessels look the same as glass but are tougher, stronger, and are said to keep drinks colder for longer.
They do not shatter like glass and tests have shown they can withstand the weight of a four tonne truck driving over them.
The Drug and Alcohol Action Team paid for the glasses to help licensees meet the cost of replacing their stock.
The organisation hopes the initiative will also save the NHS money, as each glassing attack costs 180,000 on average.
And according to Home Office calculations, once police and court costs are added in, the average cost of dealing with a glassing is 250,000.
Jo Daykin-Goodall, Sheffield Drug and Alcohol Action Team's director of substance misuse strategy, said: "We are extremely pleased with the success of this scheme.
"The public deserve to be safe and the staff at licensed premises deserve to be safe.
"It's all about people enjoying themselves in a safe environment - and polycarbonate drinking vessels can help to achieve that.
"There is also a reduced risk of bar staff being injured by broken glass.
"Staff may suffer cuts from glass when serving, clearing, carrying or washing."
Pc Matt Burdett, the city centre Licence Enforcement Officer for South Yorkshire Police, said: "We want to prevent glass-related incidents altogether.
"Polycarbonate glasses are virtually unbreakable and will prevent serious injuries occurring, and their adoption will help create a safer city centre environment."
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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