SPECIAL measures are needed to tackle a "violent crime hot-spot" in York, according to police chiefs.

Booze-fuelled violence inside the city walls has prompted plans for tough new licensing rules.

The call for action comes in response to statistics showing almost two-thirds of city centre violence occurs in one small area, centred on Micklegate.

Police are worried that new, more relaxed licensing laws due to come into force in February 2005 could make the situation even worse, and have supported a council plan to impose a tougher policy in certain parts of the city centre.

There are already 55 licensed premises within the area identified by police, which makes up just 17 per cent of the total city centre area.

Under the scheme, any applications for licensed premises in that area would be refused, unless there was proof they would not make the problem worse.

In the 12 months from September 2003 to August 2004, police recorded 1,676 crimes in the problem area, 666 of which were assaults - including 17 on police constables.

The police statistics also showed 63 per cent of the assaults took place on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, and 76 per cent were committed between 11pm and 2am.

In a report to city councillors, Chief Inspector Andy Hirst, of North Yorkshire Police, said there was an "indisputable link between alcohol provision, the night-time economy and violent crime" in the city centre.

He said: "This presents a huge burden on the policing of York, diverting scarce resources from other parts of the city at peak times.

"Under the more deregulated regime, which will come into play under the Licensing Act 2003, there is the potential for the problem to become worse.

"Whilst there are positive aspects to the Act, the fact that access to alcohol will become easier, and over longer periods of time due to extended licensing hours, means that there is the potential for alcohol-related violent crime and disorder to increase.

"Increased access to alcohol equates to increased potential for violence and disorder.

"The proposed area already has a high concentration of licensed premises and night clubs, which attract large crowds of people, and which results in an unacceptable level of alcohol-related crime and disorder."

Coun Andrew Waller, City of York Council's executive member for environment and sustainability, said: "We don't want to create areas of the city where there are just too many pubs.

"We do want a balance - and we are working closely with the police where they are concerned there is too great a concentration of pubs and clubs to maintain the well-being of the city."

The city's licensing and regulatory committee will discuss the proposed policy at a meeting next month.

Updated: 08:50 Wednesday, November 24, 2004