ALCOHOL related crime is decreasing in the town centre, according to police.

In 2005 the new licensing Act gave police and Taunton Deane Borough Council the opportunity to review the condition of licensed premises.

As such a 12.30am curfew was imposed on re-entering pubs and clubs.

Police have now reported a considerable decrease in certain alcohol related crime since the imposing of the curfew.

They say it has had a positive effect in the reduction of crimes involving violence against the person and criminal damage.

From May 2005 to October 2005 (six months previous to the ban) there was an average of 91 offences per month.

However, from November 2005 to April 2006 (six months after the ban) there was an average of 63 offences per month.

The monthly average so far for 2007 is 56 offences per month.

Inspector Mike Ashwin, who was then responsible for Taunton policing and is now part of the wider Somerset Tackling Alcohol Related Crime (STARC) initiative, said: "We wanted to stop people who quite frankly had had enough to drink from hopping from pub to pub and sometimes causing problems on the way."

Inspector Roger Tolley who now heads the Taunton Neighbourhood teams at Taunton police station said: "We have seen a sustained reduction in certain crime during this period which is due to the ban.

"It is only one of a number of methods we employ around the night time economy and remain committed to making our neighbourhoods a safe place to live, work and be entertained."