Brighton and Hove is one of the biggest crowd-pulling cities in Britain, as the Fatboy Slim concert proved.

About 250,000 people attended that event but there have been other big attractions this year, including Party in the Park and a Festival fire display in Preston Park.

There is every sign the city's popularity will increase, especially if it succeeds in becoming European Capital of Culture.

While this is generally welcome, there is a downside caused by huge crowds, including an upsurge in crime, drinking and drugs.

Police, the city council and health authorities need to get together to ensure they can cope with events in the future.

There are signs this is happening already, with officers making sure they are highly visible on the streets.

Police have generally coped well with events attracting large crowds, although the Fatboy Slim event, with the unprecedented numbers, was a close call.

Although there has been an encouraging drop in some crimes, such as burglary, the city has seen a worrying increase in crimes of violence.

Much of this is fuelled by drugs and drink and occurs at particular times - such as Friday and Saturday nights. The use of trained door staff and CCTV cameras is helping to tackle the problem.

What the authorities have to ensure is that as well as being a fun place, Brighton and Hove remains a safe city.