SEVENTY-five known troublemakers have been banned from Burnley’s pubs and clubs as part of a crackdown, police have revealed.

Names and photos of the problem drinkers are being held by nearly every licencee in the town in a bid to curb night-time trouble.

Violent crime along town centre roads including Hammerton Street and St James Street plunged by 20 per cent over Christmas and New Year because of close work between licensing officers, publicans and door staff.

Penalties imposed by landlords as part of BAND (Burnley Against Night-time Disorder) can range from a six-month to a two-year ban, based on the severity of the offence.

Town hall bosses and police have praised the success of BAND and efforts to clean up Burnley’s night-time economy.

Council leader Coun Charlie Briggs said: "I think this scheme is fantastic and it is right that any trouble causers should be rooted out and banned.

“You shouldn't have to go in a pub and be intimidated by people on drugs or who are drunk.”

Coun Neil Mottershead, community safety cabinet member, said: “By banning troublemakers like this we cut down on anti-social behaviour and more importantly keep the public safe. I would like to see this rolled out for all future troublemakers.”

Burnley MP Gordon Birtwistle said: "This is a great move for Burnley. Why should we let 75 people ruin it for the majority?”

Chief inspector Jon Bullas, of Burnley Police, said: “We are determined to keep up the strong partnerships we have established with the licensees and door supervisors in the town centre to ensure that people can enjoy a safe night.”

Tony Grace-Masters, a manager at The Kestrel, Cow Lane, said the 75 troublemakers’ faces and details are on a list, along with the length of their banning orders."

He added: “It is working very well and the police must be commended for the scheme.

“It has become a lot safer in Burnley town centre through this. We all get intelligence shared, it’s a superb system.

"There will always be people intent on trouble or who are very drunk. Our door supervisors are dedicated to checking the list of banned troublemakers and ideally refusing entry.”

An operation over Christmas and New Year, codenamed Nightsafe, saw violent crime fall by 24 per cent.

Police showed drunken revellers footage of their actions in a bid to keep them on the straight and narrow.

Mr Bullas added: “Showing revellers footage of their drunken behaviour the morning after certainly proved to be an effective tactic. The majority of people were shocked and upset by what they saw.”