POLICE in Darwen are hoping that the fall in drink-fuelled crime following the introduction of new licensing laws will continue through the festive period.
Violent crime inside East Lancashire pubs has fallen by nearly half since the controversial laws were brought in.
And concerns that 24-hour-drinking would lead to significant rises in alcohol-fuelled violence have not been borne out.
In Blackburn, Darwen, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley violent crime incidents in licensed premises have dropped from 432 last year to 266.
The big bang' that was predicted by many has never happened, according to police.
Complaints about pubs staging lock-ins' had also fallen because now they can stay open longer legally and police hope the trend continues over Christmas.
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