VIOLENT crime in Brighton and Hove has fallen since the launch of new late-night drinking hours, according to a police report.

The report shows that in the 12 months to March violent crime such as grievous bodily harm dropped 14 per cent. This represents 398 fewer victims.

But the report by Chief Inspector Lawrence Hobbs said there was a clear link between violent crime and badly-run licensed premises.

While violent crime has fallen by 14 per cent, less serious crimes such as common assault and harassment has risen by 58.6 per cent.

Kingscliffe Society member Roger Rolfe, of Prince's Street, Kemp Town, said the figures masked the true scale of serious violent crime on the streets.

He said: "Since we've had the new licensing laws there was a man almost beaten to death outside my house in May.

"One of my friends in the society told me that on Saturday night a gay man walking outside his house in Madeira Drive was stabbed in the face.

"We've both had serious incidents outside our houses for the first time and we've lived in Kemp Town for 20 years."

The report has been submitted to city's licensing committee. The new laws came in last November.

It said the huge increase in non-serious violent crime and drop in serious incidents was a result of a change in police tactics and the introduction of fixed-penalty notices for low-level disorder.

It said: "Intervening earlier and delivering a swift sanction prevents an escalation to more serious offending but does result in more low-level crime being recorded."

Councillor Jeanne Lepper, who chairs the licensing committee, said: "We are particularly pleased to see the reduction in serious injuries, which show the city is a safer place to be."

More than 40 fixed-penalty notices have been issued for licensing offences, three pubs have been shut under the Licensing Act and a further 28 pubs closed on a voluntary basis to avoid enforced closure.