A SCHEME which saw pub and club-goers in Weymouth breathalysed at venues did not produce “the number of positive outcomes” it was hoped and suffered from "divided support". 

The initiative saw breathalysers distributed to 29 pubs, clubs and bars across Weymouth who each set an alcohol limit for their premises.

Door staff were able to use readings that exceeded this limit as an additional tool, supporting their own judgement when refusing entry.

It ran from Friday, September 16 to Friday, December 16, with the public asked to give their feedback about the scheme via an online survey.

Speaking about the results, Dorset PCC, Martyn Underhill, said: “Reducing the number of people seriously harmed in Dorset is one of the priorities I have committed to focus on. This includes protecting visitors to our night-time economies.

“While the pilot of the RU2Drunk scheme did not produce the level of positive outcomes we were hoping for, it has allowed us to identify some areas that need attention in order to ensure Weymouth is a safe place to live and visit.”

He added that the results would be used to guide further improvements and that he remains committed to using innovative methods to reduce crime and protect victims in Dorset.

Police worked closely with senior lecturers at the University of Exeter, who developed the analysis and carried out the evaluation of the project.

Police said that in December, typically one of the busiest times in the night-time economy of Weymouth, there was a 15 percent reduction in violent crime compared to 2015 figures.

Weymouth Neighbourhood Inspector Pete Browning said: “We are obviously pleased to see that the number of violent crimes in the town is down.

“However, it is difficult to establish a specific link between this data and the RU2Drunk initiative, particularly given the minimal changes in crime statistics from September to November. We will therefore be treating the scheme as one factor, along with our own safety campaigns and support from local media, contributing to the decline.”

Feedback showed that 83 percent of respondents from Weymouth and the surrounding areas knew the pilot was taking place.

Inspector Browning continued: “Everyone involved in the project would like to thank local and national media for their help in raising its profile. This extends to members of the public who shared information about RU2Drunk on social media with family and friends.

“Knowledge of the scheme and its overarching aim to reduce violent crime and ASB through changing certain practices such as pre-loading is critical in achieving the reductions long term.”

The project team said that it was pleased that awareness was high but that positive results were limited due to a “lack of consistency in using the scheme”.

Dr Hannah Farrimond, senior lecturer in medical sociology at the University of Exeter said that data suggests that the scheme wasn’t widely used by all licensed premises in the scheme area, unlike at a trial in Devon.

She said: “Having spoken with premises, security staff, and the public as part of the evaluation, there appears to have been divided support for the scheme which can undermine its potential effects.

“However, some encouraging signs are there, with some venues continuing to use the breathalysers after the trial.”

Dorset Police is now keen to work with the supportive premises to continue exploring how the scheme can have a positive impact in Dorset.

Inspector Browning said: “Approximately 2 in 5 members of the public in Weymouth surveyed agreed with us that this project can succeed in changing drinking habits in the town. Schemes of this nature, aiming to influence people’s long term behaviour, will naturally take time to become fully embedded.

“A number of meaningful learning points have been gained from this pilot. We will be using these to improve the running of the project and will offer support to business that want to continue using the breathalysers.”

The project was funded jointly, by Weymouth Business Improvement District and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner.

Weymouth BID manager, Nigel Reed, said: “The potential benefits of this scheme are consistent with the BID’s business plan to support the night time economy. Whilst it did not receive the same level of support from businesses as the trial in Torquay it makes sense to continue working in partnerships on this, and other projects that improve the experience for all when out and about in Weymouth.”