Police Chiefs Criticise Government Decision to Extend Pub Hours for England-Slovenia Match

The National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) has publicly criticised the government's eleventh-hour decision to extend pub licensing hours for the England-Slovenia European Championship fixture. The move, which permits establishments to serve alcohol until 05:00 BST on the morning of Monday, 24 June, has been met with dismay by police representatives.

An NPCC spokesperson stated that the late notification of the policy change, made merely days ahead of the match, creates operational difficulties for forces across the country. They emphasised that police resources are finite and that such short-notice alterations to licensing arrangements compel the reallocation of officers from planned duties, potentially impacting other areas of public safety and crime response.

The extension of opening hours, a measure often framed by government as a boost to national morale and the hospitality sector, frequently places additional strain on emergency services. Critics argue that these decisions rarely account for the logistical challenges faced by police, who are tasked with managing increased public gatherings and potential disorder without adequate preparatory time.