Selby police chiefs said today they were winning their fight against drunken louts - thanks to extra bobbies on the beat.

A new overlapping shift system has at times doubled the number of police officers on Selby's streets at peak trouble times on Friday and Saturday evenings.

Central Area commander, Chief Superintendent John Lacy, said the extra officers had led to more arrests and was making the town centre a safer place to enjoy a night out.

Latest figures reveal that 292 alcohol-related arrests were made in Selby last year compared to 264 the previous year.

Chief Supt Lacy said this was down to a more "highly visible" police presence in the town centre.

He said the figures also allayed fears about officer numbers on the streets being reduced by the removal of custody facilities at Selby.

Some councillors and police officers expressed concerns about bobbies being taken off the beat to escort prisoners to cells at Fulford, York.

But Chief Supt Lacy said these fears had not materialised.

A police report to Selby licensing magistrates revealed a 60 per cent increase in drink-fuelled crime.

Offenders charged with harassment and breach of the peace trebled from 18 in 2000 to 58 last year. Drunk and disorderly incidents more than doubled from 12 to 26, and drunk and incapable offenders increased eight-fold. Drink-driving convictions also went up from 60 to 75.

Chief Supt Lacy said: "The increased levels of alcohol consumption across all age ranges and sexes should be a concern to all of us.

"The responsibilities of educating young people about the possible consequences of excessive consumption of alcohol rest with all of us, including parents and guardians.

"We remain committed to bringing alcohol-fuelled offenders to justice, especially drink- drivers and those who inflict violence upon others."

Selby police chief, Inspector Stephen Gray, said the new overlapping shift system had enabled them to increase numbers of officers at critical times.

He said: "We have almost a 100 per cent detection rate for offences of violence and the chances now of being affected by a violent crime in Selby are negligible."

Updated: 15:05 Friday, February 22, 2002