Pubs where yobs get drunk and violent face losing their licences in a crackdown on violent crime.

Chief Supt Sue Harrison, Braintree divisional police commander, said her officers would be using new legislation "robustly" to shut down pubs where alcohol-related violence flares up.

She was responding to statistics which showed a big rise in violent crimes in Braintree district - up 13 per cent from 1,969 to 2,225 in 2003-04, slightly above the national average rise of 12 per cent.

Chief Supt Harrison said the overall crime figures for Braintree division showed crime was going down.

She said: "The concern is the increase in violent crime. Most of that, we think, is apportioned to assaults, particularly linked to alcohol.

"There's new licensing legislation coming in next year, and we're very keen to work with our partners to make sure this is applied robustly to focus on problem areas.

"The majority of licensed premises cause us no problems and have nothing to fear.

"Those licensed premises that do cause a problem or because of people who go into them, or if they serve people who are already drunk who come out fighting, they've got to take some responsibility."

The 2003 Licensing Act allows police to seek a review of landlord's licences if alcohol-related disorder centres around their premises.

Published Tuesday July 27, 2004

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