GRASSROOTS police representatives warned today that extra drinking time for pubs and clubs could put an extra burden on officers.

But Mark Botham, chairman of North Yorkshire Police Federation, said he was not convinced drink-fuelled violence would increase with round-the-clock drinking.

He said: "It's flexibility, not mass disorder, that we want to see. We support greater flexibility for closing time, but we don't support 24-hour drinking because of the strain it would put on resources.

"My view is that with extra flexibility we may not see the massive influx on to the streets at certain times and the huge amount of policing that needs. But 24-hour drinking would affect the police shift system, and of course we would have concerns about that."

His comments came after a senior officer said late-night drinking would put an intolerable strain on police resources.

Cheshire Chief Constable Peter Fahy said bobbies on the beat would become a less common sight as forces race to meet the demands of later opening hours.

Alan Gordon, vice-chairman of the Police Federation, which represents 138,000 officers up to the rank of Chief Inspector, said day shifts could be affected by extra night-time pressures. He said: "There are only limited resources. If we have got to keep putting more people on at night, that's going to start having an effect on the day shift."

A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said senior officers were watching carefully as the licensing situation unfolded.

But he said that the relaxing of restrictions around drinking hours was not expected to cause unexpected pressures on the force.

He said: "There's little indication that bars and pubs are going for 24-hour drinking.

"However, as at the moment, policing works on the basis of staff meeting the demands at any given time, which is why there are more officers on duty on Saturday night than at 4am on Thursdays.

"This has always been the case and to some extent has been governed by the licensing hours. We don't foresee a major issue, but it is nonetheless a concern. It's an issue that must be addressed."

Earlier this week senior judges warned that the move could lead to an explosion of drink-fuelled violence.

Updated: 10:38 Friday, August 12, 2005