There's more violence during full moons, say police

Cases of anti- social behaviour rose noticeably on the brightest nights, according to a study by the Sussex force.

"There is definitely a trend," said Inspector Andy Parr, who is responsible for patrols in Brighton at weekends. "With each full moon the number of disturbances recorded increased significantly."

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The force is now preparing to put extra officers on the streets during full moons in a bid to curb unruly behaviour.

Inspector Parr, who led the study, said its findings are too striking to dismiss as coincidence.

He compared the number of violent crimes recorded in the region last year with the date of each full moon and discovered a distinct correlation.

"I'm aware that this is just one of many things that can influence public disorder but if you speak to ambulance staff they will tell you exactly the same," he said.

"It may be dismissed as an old wives' tale but there's plenty of other research to suggest that the moon has an impact on human behavioural patterns.

"Last weekend we had a full moon and it was busier in Brighton than it has been previously."

This is not the first time that a link between full moons and extremes in human behaviour has been identified.

A study published by German scientists in 2000 claimed the full also sparked a rise in binge drinking.

They checked the police arrest reports and blood-alcohol tests of 16,495 offenders. Most of those with an excess of 2ml of alcohol per 100ml of blood - drunk, under German law - had been caught during the five-day full moon cycle.

Another study, published in 1998, discovered a rise in violent incidents among the 1,200 inmates at Armley Jail in Leeds during the days either side of a full moon.

During the first and last quarter of each lunar month there was a marked increase in aggressive incidents.

But during the other period of every lunar month, there were far fewer incidents and none at all on some days.

The Daily Mail's astrologer Jonathan Cainer said Inspector Parr had shown "great courage" by publicly making the link between anti- social behaviour and a full moon.

"Privately it's not just the police who acknowledge that more dramatic things happen around the full moon," he said.

"The fire brigade and ambulance service will both say exactly the same.

"The ocean tides rise and fall with the moon and so do the tides of human emotion. At new moon our inner seas are deep but still.

"At full moon it is as if they are being furiously whipped up by a wind. Full moon aggression can, however, be turned into motivation. That's why many people achieve more during a full moon.

"But the reason why we have the word "lunatic" is because people famously go crazy when the moon is full. So, now that we have official confirmation of how a full moon can provoke violent crime, the only solution is to give the moon an Asbo.

"It's clearly inciting people to disobey the law and behave in a reckless manner."