A DRINKING ban in Accrington town centre has led to a 50 per cent drop in the number of glass and bottle crimes.

The Crystal Clear campaign was launched in July to stop people taking glasses and bottles from bar to bar. It is backed by legislation introduced by Hyndburn Council earlier this year, giving police powers to arrest anyone flouting the ban.

Sgt Mark Porter, town centre officer for Accrington Police, revealed the figures at a meeting of the town centre regeneration assembly. He said: "It is now some months into the Crystal Clear campaign and it has been interesting to see how it has worked and what sort of effect it has had.

"The indicators we use as to how well or badly it is going are the crime figures. What we are really looking at is glass and bottle-related crime because it costs thousands and thousands of pounds, not just for what we do but ambulance care.

"We have reduced violent crime by 50 per cent since the inception. That is significant and very positive. It goes along with the feedback we have from people working in the town centre. People are interested in it. It will be quite a test over Christmas to see how that goes but all in all the overall effect has been very pleasing."

In the period from July to October last year there were 10 glass or bottle related incidents. In the same period this year the figure had dropped to 5.

Council leader Ian Ormerod welcomed the news and spoke of the distress such crimes caused to relatives of victims. "There are mothers, sisters, girlfriends and wives who have gone through this. Whatever we can do to halt the attacks has to be welcomed. I think the reduction is remarkable."

Sgt Porter said the use of plastic glasses would help the campaign but that was something for the drinks industry to address. "The issue is down to the breweries. It's an ongoing thing and something we are looking at.

"I have seen it in other towns and it makes no difference to drinkers. Some manufacturers sell drinks in bottles and it's quite a trend nowadays to drink from the bottle and we are up against that issue."