'Drop' in drink-fuelled violence

The study contradicted other statistics which found violence increased

Community-based pilot projects aimed at cutting alcohol-related disorder have led to a 10% drop in violent crime in Glasgow, it has been claimed.

But the report from the University of Bath contradicts other statistics which found a 23% increase in alcohol-related crime in the same period.

The study examined projects in Glasgow, Birmingham and Cardiff from 2003.

It concluded measures, such as improved late night travel, had had a "considerable positive impact".

The initiatives were funded by the Alcohol Education and Research Council with the aim of bringing together different groups to tackle problems associated with alcohol-related harm and disorder.

Projects focussed on working with licensees, particularly the so-called 'super-pubs', to tackle binge drinking.

'Increased awareness'

Moves to improve street lighting, increase in the number of late night buses and introduce supervised taxi-ranks were also praised.

Evaluation of the projects by the Mental Health Research and Development Unit at the university found a 29% fall in "wounding" in Birmingham.

It also revealed a 25% reduction of alcohol-related incidents recorded at A&E departments in Cardiff. But this contradicts police figures showing a 33% increase in alcohol-related incidents.

Dr Willm Mistral, from the University of Bath, carried out the independent evaluation.

He said: "Despite the inherent difficulties in interpreting such a range of data, there can be no doubt the community partnerships have had a considerable positive impact on the local environment.

"The increased public awareness, stronger relationships with the license trade, improved environments and better late night transport links have all brought benefits to the area."

He said the main problem remained the price and availability of alcohol.