Assaults down since extended pub hours
Serious violent assaults have fallen since the introduction of the new licensing laws, according to data from hospital A&E departments.
A study, published today by Cardiff University's violence research group, says that 6,000 fewer people have needed hospital treatment since the pub opening hours changed in November 2005.
The figures, based on returns from 33 accident and emergency departments in England and Wales, estimate that 364,000 people needed treatment after being assaulted in 2006 - 6,000 fewer than the previous year.
Injuries among men remained stable but the number of injured women fell.
Results showed there were more violent incidents at weekends with the worst time of year being between April and October - peaking in July.
The figures will be a blow to those who predicted the end of civilisation when pubs were allowed to open longer.
They also seem to confirm police assertions that staggered opening hours would cut trouble.
Professor Jonathan Shepherd, the director of the Cardiff University violence research group, told the Guardian the figures demonstrated that the feared effect of the licensing law changes had not materialised.
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