VIOLENT CRIME FIGURES DROP

But not everyone is happy.

Violent crime covers assault, harassment and general public order offences.

Sussex Police Assistant Chief Constable Jeremy Paine said concerns over 24-hour drinking leading to an increase in alcohol-fuelled violence and public nuisance had not materialised - thanks to a robust police response to the new legislation.

Police and Trading Standards had targeted off-licences and pubs to prevent sales of alcohol to underage youngsters.

Police had taken a much more pro-active approach to deal with yobbish behaviour, to prevent it escalating to more serious offences, and handing out on the spot penalties to people drunk in a public place or using threatening or abusive behaviour.

Lewes this year had 1,459 'violent' crimes, 200 fewer than the previous 12 months.

In total Lewes had 908 fewer reported overall crimes during the year, which is more than a 12 per cent reduction.

There was a 29 per cent reduction in burglaries to dwellings.

Lewes Inspector Viv Johnson said: 'This is a truly dramatic drop in the level of reported crime, making Lewes an even safer place to live in.'

But one High Street resident, who declined to be named, said: 'If anti-social behaviour includes yobs yelling and shouting in the middle of the night, then I am not impressed.

'A greater police presence in the main street at this time of night would be a very good idea.

'We, of course, don't report rowdyism to the police. If we did, it would be every weekend.'

A number of local residents complained at recent licensing sub-committee meetings, where licensees applied for drink extensions, that noise in the High Street was already very bad at weekends and could only last longer if extended hours were allowed.

Lewes District Council licensing officer Garry Clark said: 'The jury is out as far as I am concerned.

'The later drinking means there is not the crush of people coming out together at closing time, and that's beneficial.

'The downside is that some people are having to wait longer to get a quiet night.

We are all doing what we can to minimise the problem.'