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In an attempt to rehabilitate such persons, a voluntary body took occupancy of a derelict
house situated in a row of shops and warehouses due for early redevelopment. In view of the
overcrowding at these premises and the deplorable environmental conditions, a limit of
occupancy was placed on the house against which the voluntary association appealed, the Court
allowing a much higher occupancy level.
A Residents' Association in the area made strong representations to the Council with
regard to these vagrant methylated spirit drinkers in general and to the voluntary association's
activities in particular. Subsequently the Council appointed members to serve on a
deputation to wait upon Lord Stonham, Joint Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, for the
purpose of urging the Government to take more positive measures to deal with the problems
created by vagrant methylated spirit drinkers
The deputation, which also included representatives of the London Boroughs' Association,
the London Borough of Southwark and the Tower Hamlets Residents' Association, was received at
the Home Office in July, 1967. The Council's representatives gave details of the Council's
experience of the public nuisances created within the borough, and concluded by urging that
the problem be tackled immediately on the following basis:-
(i) The recognition that the problem must be dealt with by co-ordinated effort of
public authorities, and not left to voluntary organisations.
(ii) That the co-ordination and direction should come from the Home Office in
consultation with the Ministry of Health.
(iii) That the use of compulsory treatment under the Mental Health Aet, 1959 be
exercised to the fullest possible extent
(iv) That compulsory treatment be instituted either under the Inebriates Acts.
1879-1900, or by means of new legislation
(v) That preventive measures be adopted to prevent addiction by:-
(a) the control of the sale of methylated and surgical spirits;
(b) the addition of more effective denaturants to methylated and
surgical spirits;
(c) the removal of facilities for crude spirit drinkers to congregate;
(d) an extension of social work in an endeavour to prevent the crude
drinking habit being contracted by socially inadequate persons.
Lord Stonham indicated that the Home Office felt that the solution lay in the provision
of hostels and community centres where alcoholics could.be treated under a supportive but
permissive regime, and that the Home Office were aiming at providing these facilities, but
agreed that it would be unwise to open any new hostels in the immediate areas under discussion.
He urged the boroughs' representatives to do all they could to assist those that were already
in existence, and expressed the hope that the Council would give evidence to the Working Party
on Habitual Drunken Offenders
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