One million assaults in first year of Labour's 24-hour licensing

Some drink-related assaults increased by more than 130 per cent between 3am and 6am.

The figures left in tatters the Government's claim that round-the- clock pub opening would reduce crime.

Instead, the timing of the mayhem has simply been displaced.

Scroll down for more ...

Police leaders and MPs last night called for Gordon Brown - whose views on 24-hour drinking are unknown - to reverse the liberalisation of the licensing laws, which took place in November 2005.

British Crime Survey figures revealed there were 1,087,000 violent attacks by drunks in the first full year of 24-hour drinking - up 64,000 on the previous year.

It is equivalent of one booze-fuelled attack every 30 seconds, or almost 3,000 each day. Before the law changed the total had been falling.

A separate Home Office study, based on crimes reported to police, found that there were 940,522 violent crimes and cases of

disorder and criminal damage committed from 6pm to 6am in the year after pubs and clubs were given permission to open later - an increase of 6,300.

Causing death by dangerous driving while under the influence of drink or drugs reached its highest level for 30 years.

There were 462 cases in the year after opening hours were relaxed, up 7 per cent.

The figures show that the many critics of the liberalisation, including the Daily Mail, were correct to warn that all-night pub opening would herald a rise in crime.

Former Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell pushed through the change in the face of overwhelming opposition, claiming crime would fall as Britain moved to a Continental-style 'cafe culture'.

In August 2005, she said the Licensing Act was 'a serious piece of legislation intended to improve quality of life and curb crime'.

Yesterday, however, Licensing Minister Gerry Sutcliffe was forced to own up to an 'unwelcome' increase in alcohol-related violence at certain times during the night.

The Home Office report was the first to measure the impact of extended licensing hours, compiling figures from 30 police forces across England and Wales.

In addition to the overall increase in offences between 6pm and 6am, it showed that most serious violent crime fell by 5 per cent in the year after the law changed. But within that total there was a 25 per cent

rise in serious violent crime committed between 3am and 6am.

Less serious woundings rose by 26 per cent between 3am and 6am.

Among 18 police forces which looked specifically at incidents in city centres and near pubs and clubs, less serious woundings in the 3am to 6am time slot rocketed by 133 per cent year-on-year.

The Home Office refused to publish figures which plotted the same trends for the most serious violent crimes, claiming that the data was 'not statistically significant'.

Jan Berry, chairman of the Police Federation, said: 'Before 24-hour licensing was introduced we warned that many drink irresponsiblyand don't know when to stop, and that a large proportion of violence is attributed to alcohol abuse.

'Unfortunately, this proves the point. We've seen increasing drinkrelated crime and it seems hospitals are now overflowing with people who drink to excess.

'If the Government can reconsider reclassification of cannabis then they should also reconsider 24-hour licensing.'

Shadow Home Secretary David Davis said: 'That night crime increased after the introduction of 24-hour drinking is yet more evidence why the Government should have listened to our call to pilot the scheme and assess its consequences - instead of recklessly unleashing it on our towns and communities.'

Liberal Democrat culture spokesman Don Foster said: 'On the back of a sharp rise in admissions to A&E departments it is now increasingly clear that the Government's licensing policy is in tatters.'

'We argued that the Government should not be taking measures to liberalise drinking until bingedrinking had been brought under control. It is now even worse.'

However, Professor Paul Wiles, director of Home Office Research and Development, said: 'When we brought in the Licensing Act, there was a lot of worry it would encourage murder and mayhem. The figures-show it has not happened.' Mr Sutcliffe said: 'Any increase in alcohol-related crime at any time of day is unwelcome but these statistics must been seen in context. Overall, serious incidents have fallen and they have been spread more evenly throughout the night.

'An aim of the Act was to reduce the flashpoints at 11pm and 2am when, under the old laws, pubs and clubs had to throw out drunken revellers at the same time.

'There now isn't a standard closing time. Instead bars and clubs close at different times over a longer period enabling the police to better deal with disorder.'