Police slam judge 'no-go' claims

Insp Andy Smith said work was being done to bring troublemakers to justice

Worcester's police head has disputed a judge's reported claims that the city has "no-go areas".

Insp Andy Smith said the comments "that people are frightened to go onto the streets because of alcohol-related violence were not borne out by facts".

Judge Alistair McCreath had been speaking in an assault case at Worcester Crown Court.

A spokesman for the judge said he had not meant the problems of violent behaviour were specific to Worcester.

Insp Smith said: "Like virtually every city centre throughout the UK, Worcester has its share of problems linked to alcohol and anti-social behaviour, but - relatively speaking - no more than anywhere else and, in some cases, considerably less."

'Tainted picture'

He added: "I am sure that Judge McCreath, in his court, is often confronted with cases where alcohol and violent crime go hand-in-hand, however, this paints a tainted picture of what is a safe city."

He added that West Mercia Police was working with pubs and clubs to ensure that people known to cause problems in the city centre were brought to justice.

A spokesman at the Department for Constitutional Affairs said judges were unable to talk about cases after they had finished but confirmed the judge had spoken about "no-go areas".

However, he said that the judge had been referring to two individuals' behaviour and how their actions had made people want to avoid certain areas of the city.

The spokesman said: "He was addressing the actions of two people who set out to get drunk and pick a fight with each other which he said had created a no-go atmosphere."