LATE-NIGHT York bars linked to a rising tide of lawlessness and violence fuelled by cheap alcohol could risk having their licences taken away, the city's council leader has warned.

Shocking new figures reveal that violent crime associated with licensed premises in the city has risen by more than a third (34 per cent) in the past 12 months.

Council bosses are to lobby local MPs for greater powers to limit bar opening hours and opportunities for binge drinking, when licensing powers are passed to the council next year.

In the meantime, police chiefs are investigating whether community support officers can be deployed between 10pm and 2am for the first time to boost officer numbers on the streets of the city.

Steve Galloway, City of York Council leader, said many residents and businesses were "alarmed" by the increase in alcohol-related violence, the promotion of cheap alcohol and its abuse by youngsters.

He said: "We may have to look very seriously at whether we can be more pro-active in opposing the granting of licences to establishments which have been linked with behavioural problems."

The news comes just weeks after the Evening Press reported that young women were putting themselves at risk by bingeing on bargain-basement booze.

A fifth of all people now brought before the courts for alcohol-related offences were women.

Chief Inspector Andy Bell, York district police commander, said: "York is a tourist city and we want to attract visitors, not discourage them by being seen as a centre for the binge-drinking culture."

Jane Mowat, of Safer York Partnership, said tackling drink-related crime was this year's top priority for the group, which has led a long-term crime-fighting strategy in the city.

Peter Brownsword, a leading York licensee, who manages the busy Nexus and McMillans nightspots, said many bar operators were concerned that the council would have too much power.

But he said that sensible and responsible management should prevent problems. He said his door staff worked every night checking for underage drinkers, people carrying drugs, and drunk revellers.

Councillors are calling for a public meeting between licensed traders, the Licensed Victuallers' Association and the Safer York Partnership to discuss how drinking is linked with antisocial behaviour in York.

City of York Council will debate a Liberal Democrat motion on alcohol abuse at its full meeting on April 29.

Updated: 10:52 Monday, April 19, 2004