A CRACKDOWN on drink-fuelled crime and disorder is to be expanded after a pilot scheme more than halved offences in pubs and clubs.

Durham Constabulary has introduced a team to monitor licensed premises in its north division, which takes in the districts of Easington, Dur-ham City, Chester-le-Street, and Derwentside.

Sergeant Tim Robson, head of the unit, said: "The culture of drinking and socialising is changing at an alarming rate.

"The resulting implications on policing styles and licensing reform mean that the force must move forward and embrace change."

The Government is shifting responsibility from magistrates' courts to local authorities, meaning existing licen-sees will have to reapply for permission to sell booze.

Over the coming months, more than 4,600 applications are expected in the north of County Durham alone - and the police will be consulted on all of them.

The new team will gather intelligence to help councils assess whether licensees meet four criteria: the prevention of crime and disorder on their premises; public safety; prevention of public nuisance and protection of children from harm.

"Licensing regimes impact on the quality of life of residents in communities," said Sgt Robson.

"The unit aims to establish practices that ensure people living in the vicinity of licensed premises aren't adversely affected by them."

The unit was set up after a successful pilot scheme in Derwentside.

The scheme reduced the number of assaults, criminal damage, drug-related crime and disturbances on licensed premises by more than 55 per cent.

"Licensing has been largely a reactive task, with associated incidents of violence and disorder dealt with as and when they occurred," said Sgt Robson.

"However, through pro-active policing, the unit will deal positively with the root cause of problems in a bid to reduce such incidents."

He also hopes to expand the Pubwatch scheme, a network that monitors the movements of known troublemakers and keeps them out of pubs and clubs.

Chief Inspector Dave Hogg, who is in charge of community justice for Durham Constabulary, said: "Tim's team has already shown the sort of impact we can have in this highly complex area of policing, and the goal is now to extend the success achieved in Derwentside to the remainder of the north area."