GLASS and bottle related incidents in Accrington town centre dropped by 40 per cent last year thanks to three schemes, licensing magistrates have been told.

And police have pledged to continue a crackdown on off licenses in Hyndburn serving booze to under-age drinkers in a bid to reduce juvenile nuisance.

The drop in glass and bottle incidents was attributed to Operation Crystal Clear, the door supervisors scheme, and Accrington's Pubwatch scheme.

Operation Crystal Clear was introduced in Accrington town centre last summer to prohibit the carrying of glasses and bottles from pub to pub, and the message had got through to drinkers, PC Les Sholicar, the town's licensing PC, told the meeting.

"The public are now aware of the scheme and it has become the exception, rather than the norm, to see people carrying bottles and glasses from one premises to another," he said. "The Accrington Pubwatch is a further example of the commitment of the licensees in the town centre to enhance the area's reputation."

Under the scheme, set up in December 2001, drinkers barred from one pub are automatically banned from the other 26 pubs in the scheme. Fifty drinkers are currently banned.

PC Sholicar told the meeting the borough's door supervisor scheme was another factor in bringing down drink related crime figures.

"The door supervisor's registration scheme, run by Hyndburn council in partnership with the police, continues to have a positive impact.

"The scheme's membership is increasing and the latest course for applicants to obtain qualification is under way.

"The three schemes have played a great part in the 40 per cent reduction in glass and bottle related incidents in the town centre during 2002. The public are now well aware of these initiatives and the numbers of people attempting to leave premises with unfinished drinks has reduced considerably."

Magistrates also heard that in the last year two door supervisors were suspended and 12 had their registration cancelled.

There were 194 prosecutions for drunkenness in 2002 -- slightly up from 191 the previous year. Of the 4,215 arrests made last year 664 people had had a drink, and 670 were drunk. Drink driving prosecutions rose from 115 in 2001 to 153.