A FIFTH of all violent crimes now happen on a Sunday, according to York police - with all-day drinkers causing many of the problems.

Violent crime in York and Selby has risen by 11 per cent since this time last year, although York city centre has seen a drop of 1.6 per cent in incidents.

The north of the city has seen the biggest increase of 39.6 per cent, with the east side up by 11 per cent. But in the west of York violence has dropped by 29.1 per cent. In Selby violence has increased by 18.5 per cent.

The change in drinking habits has caused problems for police, who have already become used to putting on extra patrols on Friday and Saturday nights - traditionally the times when problems flare up.

But now they are seeing an increasing number of incidents taking place on Sunday evenings, after people have spent several hours drinking.

Detective Chief Inspector Steve Barlow, central area crime manager, told a meeting of the Community and Police Groups of Selby and York this week that habits were changing and police tactics had to change with them.

He said: "We staff town well on Friday and Saturday nights but what we have found is a change in drinking habits and that Sunday becomes a big drinking day.

"Lads go out in the morning, drink all day and all night and 20 per cent of violence is occurring on Sunday night - that's a bit of a change isn't it?"

Brian Norrie, president of the Licensed Victualler's Association, said a small number of people were spoiling it for everyone else.

He said: "Since Sunday opening people have done that, people have stayed out all day.

"Where we once had people going home for their lunch and a break at 2pm or 3pm, watching a bit of telly and then coming back at 7pm, now we have got a binge, people going out on a big drinking session from 12pm to 5pm, possibly 6pm or sometimes even later.

"Generally we will always get the hardened drinkers who will carry on and carry on.

"But the majority of people are sensible drinkers and it's the minority that are causing the problems by drinking all day."

Licensing officer PC Dave Boag said: "There's a larger volume of people out on a Sunday. We do get a few more incidents than we would do normally because people tend to opt for the Sunday drinking."

Updated: 09:25 Thursday, November 29, 2001