THE head of a victim support scheme has urged the police to consider banning booze from the streets of Blackburn after an escalation in alcohol related violence.

Mr Les James said there had been a dramatic increase in young male adult "victims" needing help after drunken brawls in the town centre, many of whom unwittingly engaged in violence while intoxicated.

Speaking at a meeting of the Blackburn Police and Community Forum, Mr James asked Superintendent Eddie Walsh, head of the Blackburn division, to consider introducing a scheme similar to those operating in Bath, Coventry and Glasgow.

Drinking on the streets has been outlawed in each of the cities.

Mr James said: "There is an increase in people being violently assaulted. It is getting worse and a lot of it is self generating." The suggestion was backed by a member of the public at the meeting who said she avoided entering the town centre at weekends for fear of being attacked.

She added: "People walk from public house to public house carrying bottles which can easily be used as missiles.

"People should not be allowed to walk from public house to public house while drinking alcohol."

Superintendent Walsh said the idea had not been discussed before.

He told the meeting that there had been a 15 per cent increase in violent crime between April and August 1995 and the same period this year.

He has already acknowledged that violent crime is a cause for concern.

He told the Lancashire Evening Telegraph this week that there was no doubt that the commission of such offences was "frequently linked to the consumption of alcohol".

The matter has now been placed on the agenda for the next Blackburn Police And Community Forum in January next year.

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