Christian charity Street Angels is backing calls for so-called "drunk tanks" to be introduced across the country. It's after the Association of Chief Police Officers organisation called for private firms to operate welfare centres to care for drunks, and ease the pressure on police at weekends.
The organisation has also suggested the costs of dealing with alcohol-fuelled trouble, should be paid for by drunks themselves.
Chief Constable Adrian Lee of Northamptonshire Police is hoping it will act as a deterrent, he said: "I use the term 'welfare centre'. "We would arrest them, they'd go to a welfare centre and when they were sober then the police would return to deal with the criminality of their behavior and there might well be a bill to pay"
The founder of Street Angels, Paul Blakey MBE told Premier's Victoria Laurence on the News Hour why he's supporting the idea:
In a statement to Premier, Crime Prevention Minister Jeremy Browne said:
"The government is taking a wide range of action to tackle alcohol-related crime and disorder. This includes introducing a ban on the worst cases of very cheap and harmful alcohol sales. "We have given local areas the power to restrict the sale of alcohol in the early hours and ensure those who profit from a late night licence help pay towards the costs of policing."