Cardiff binge drinkers to see themselves on video

Here’s my summary of a report I just found on the website of BBC News Wales.

Basically, people in Cardiff who drink so much alcohol that they require medical assistance or become slightly injured as a consequence of drink are going to be taken to a new triage centre at Ebenezer Chapel, Charles Street to be treated instead of the A&E.  According to the local health board, sixty per cent of ambulances and A&E beds are used for drunks at the weekends.

As the drunkards arrive at the triage they will be filmed in all their glory and then given the opportunity to view the recording when they’ve sobered up. Mr Conrad Eydmann, head of substance misuse strategy and development for Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, hopes those treated at the triage will be shocked into changing their ways, although they won’t be forced to watch the video. 

The triage will be open on Wednesday and Saturday nights, which have been identified as the busiest periods for drinking to excess. It’ll be staffed by an A&E doctor, nurses, health care professionals, and a police officer “to maintain order”. The 12 week trial from September to January 2013 is going to cost [an additional] £85,000, which is coming from the Welsh government.

The report finishes by saying that Cardiff University are going to evaluate its success and it is hoped that the project could then be made permanent

Calvin Comments

Whilst I wish the initiative the very best of luck, which it doesn’t seem to need as the BBC report suggests that it’s going to be a success even before it’s evaluated, I do feel a little rant is necessary!

Call me ‘old git’, but when I joined the police in the late 1970s, drunks were arrested and charged with being ‘drunk and incapable’ or ‘drunk and disorderly’ and taken before the magistrates in the morning (complete with severe hangover).  Invariably they got a fine or a day in the cells or both and whilst the hardened alcoholics would invariably repeat the exercise, I rarely saw the youngsters again; the sort that we found naked and tied to lampposts or the ones that tried to  direct traffic on the Western Avenue after half a dozen Babychams

Of course, as prisoners (these days referred to as ‘persons detained’) they were a damned nuisance.  They often crapped and urinated themselves, vomited over the charge desk (and the Sergeant), sang ‘Land of Hope and Glory’ at full volume and the unconscious ones had to be watched over almost constantly so they didn’t choke to death on their own vomit.  Unfortunately and sadly though, a few did.  

So, many years ago, the police were told that the most drunken of these rascals had to be taken to hospital, because they were, in actual fact, poisoned and were therefore ill and a police station cell was no place for an ill (detained) person.

This freed up the police cells, released up lots of court time for more ‘worthy’ cases and reduced the police overtime bill and the Sergeant’s dry cleaning bills! But it also sometimes transferred the trouble from the police station to the hospital and in effect it also meant that fewer people were actually arrested for being drunk in a public place.  Being drunk in the street was no longer something that would necessarily get you nicked or prosecuted; there was no shame in it any longer.  Is it no wonder that getting tanked up is seen as socially acceptable in some quarters?

And, with fewer people prosecuted for their outlandish intoxicated behaviour, I can’t help but ask what recompense these hospitalised drunks pay back to society for the night’s disturbance and general pain in the arseness?  I don’t actually know, but does the Ambulance Service send them a bill if they’ve used their services and does the National Health Service charge them for the night of TLC?

I’m clearly out of touch with reality; enjoy the film.

I think I shall go and lie down for an hour.

For the BBC News Wales report click here