BOURNEMOUTH'S notorious problems with binge drinking and alcohol-fuelled violence could be dramatically reduced if pubs and clubs were further apart, it has been claimed.

Towns with large numbers of licensed premises in concentrated areas have come under fire in a study by a group of influential MPs.

The report calls into question the trend of recent years which has seen bars, pubs and clubs operating in small areas of towns including Bournemouth, Poole and Wimborne.

The Home Affairs Select Committee fears public disorder can only get worse if pubs and clubs continue to be allowed to open on each other's doorsteps and when 24-hour drinking gets into full swing this summer.

Now members of Bournemouth's licensing board have asked for a full report on the issue to be considered at their next meeting.

The Horseshoe Common area of Bournemouth, the centre of the town's night-time economy, has already been revealed as the most violent area in Dorset.

And crime figures show that half of all violent crime in Bournemouth is drink-related.

"The underlying problem is of too many people drinking heavily in small geographical areas," said committee chairman John Denham.

"The focus of longer term policy should be on proper city planning supported by adequate transport and other facilities."

And Superintendent Nick Hazelton of Bournemouth police agreed that violence could be reduced if there was more space between premises.

"There is no doubt that when we get licensed premises close to each other it is a recipe for problems," he told the Daily Echo.

Reducing the concentration of pubs and clubs is just one of numerous suggestions to deal with the alcohol-related crime sweeping Britain.

The committee claims the bosses of licensed premises should be forced to pay for extra policing where there are problems with binge drinking.

And it urges local authorities to target irresponsible drinks promotions such as happy hours and two-for-one offers, as well as imposing a minimum pricing policy.

Bournemouth's Town Watch Forum has been instrumental in introducing a minimum price policy in the town centre. Licensed premises are urged to charge no less than £1.50 for alcoholic drinks.

Forum chairman Steve Hudson dismissed claims that pubs and clubs should pay towards policing and added: "The liquor industry already pays £21 billion in taxes compared to a total annual police budget of £10 billion."

And he blamed the government for the high concentration of pubs and clubs. "They have allowed these licences to be given out so they can't blame the industry."

But Sir John Butterfill, MP for Bournemouth West, said he believed late-night pubs and clubs should make some contribution to stretched emergency services and hospitals.

"I think we've gone too far in Bournemouth town centre," he said. "There are too many pubs and clubs open very late and it makes the place a bit intimidating for the public.

"I think we've taken it a bit far and more care needs to be taken about licensing."

First published: April 6