TWICE as many officers patrol Oxford city centre at weekends to tackle drunken and loutish behaviour compared to four years ago.

Only 14 officers were needed on Friday and Saturday nights to cope with crimes and nuisance caused by revellers enjoying bars and nightclubs before changes in the Licensing Act in 2005 allowed premises to stay open longer.

Now the force says it needs 27 officers in the city centre to combat antisocial behaviour and violence.

Police figures released in the summer revealed alcohol-related crime across the city had increased by a third since the licensing changes in 2005.

Chief Constable Sara Thornton said officers were targeting drunken antisocial behaviour as part of Operation Confidence, which runs until Christmas.

She said: “Employees of licensed premises, such as pubs, nightclubs and restaurants, have a vital role to play in ensuring the sale of alcohol is properly regulated and we have a safe and social night-time economy.

“We also put considerable effort into policing our town and city centres in the evening and the number of officers and staff patrolling there is on the rise.

“For example, apart from special constables and Pcsos, the number of police officers covering Friday and Saturday nights between 8pm and 3am in Oxford has increased from 14 to 27 in the last five years.”

Oxford commander Supt Andy Murray said increased numbers to police the night-time economy in Oxford were vital.

He said: “There are 790 licensed premises in Oxford, and the city centre and Cowley Road attract a significant number of people at the weekend.

“A visible police presence is crucial to ensure the vast majority of those people enjoy a safe night out.”

Official figures show that between 6pm and 6am in the city centre – including Park End Street, Hythe Bridge Street, George Street, Cornmarket Street and High Street there were 1,395 violent incidents between April last year and March this year, compared to 1,016 during the same period four years ago.

Oxford Pubwatch chairman Jacqueline Paphitis, landlady of the White Horse in Broad Street, said: “Sadly there is always going to be a small element of people and small element of bars where there will be trouble.

“In the eight years I have been here I think there has been a reduction, but I’m glad more police are out at weekends to make sure it is safe for people who want to enjoy the city’s nightlife.”

Neil Ritchie, landlord of the Jolly Farmers, in Paradise Street, was bitten and punched by a drunken man who refused to leave his pub in September.

He said: “We don’t see a lot of police presence and my reliance on police is quite low.

“We’ve certainly seen fewer people out drinking in the past three years and since the changes in the licensing laws.

“Like most places in the city centre, revenue is down.”

Last Thursday, 22 officers and 35 volunteer stewards were required to police more than 900 students who hit the city’s bars and clubs for the Oxford’s UK Carnage pub crawl.

mwilkinson@oxfordmail.co.uk