'Crime soars amid 24-hour drinking'

Figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act and published in The Daily Telegraph show the move in November 2005 to allow pubs and clubs to stay open all night has increased the pressure on police forces.

The figures reveal that 12 of England and Wales's 43 forces have seen a 46% increase in the number of anti social incidents they dealt with to 13,500 a month by the end of last year. And 16 forces reported a rise of 5% in alcohol-related assaults, harassment and criminal damage crimes.

Shadow home secretary David Davis said it was evidence of the "misery" caused to communities by the Government.

"Yet Gordon Brown's response has simply been to try and spin his way out of trouble," he said. "He should stop dithering and start acting to restore order to our streets."

In Durham, anti-social behaviour incidents increased by 300% to 686 in October, compared with 165 in December 2005.

But Cheshire - another of the 22 forces that provided data - reported a sharp fall in the numbers of alcohol-related assaults, harassment and criminal damage crimes in the two years since the law change.

Jan Berry, chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, told the Telegraph: "We warned that changing licensing hours without changing the drinking culture would cause a drain on our limited resources. More officers, not less are needed, alongside a thorough review of 24 hour licensing."

The findings come ahead of the publication of a Government review ordered by the Prime Minister last July.

It has previously been reported that the review was expected to dismiss concerns that the relaxation of licensing laws would lead to an increase in binge drinking and anti-social behaviour. The Home Office said the change in law had not resulted in 24-hour drinking and that its own research last year had revealed a drop in certain crimes.