24-hour drinking leads to surge in violenceBy Toby Helm and John Steele
Government claims that all-night drinking would create a relaxed Mediterranean cafe culture and cut alcohol-related crime were shattered yesterday as figures showed that early morning violent offences had soared since 24-hour licensing.
A Home Office report disclosed that offences of assault, criminal damage and harassment between 3am and 6am rose sharply in the 12 months after the reforms came in. The figures are a blow to ministers who had argued that staggered and later closing times would reduce crime levels by avoiding the traditional 11pm rush on to the streets, which often resulted in ugly clashes between drunken revellers and police.
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