Do not be surprised to see police patrolling inside pubs and clubs in Oxford this weekend.

Officers are turning their attention to trouble inside the city's late-night bars, as part of a clampdown on violent drunken crime in the city centre.

It comes after figures revealed violent drunken crime jumped by 13 per cent in a three month period earlier this year.

Now police working Friday and Saturday nights will patrol inside pubs and clubs and lend a hand to door staff and licensees.

City centre inspector Richard Brown said the patrols are supposed to be a deterrent to cut down on violence, ranging from drunken brawls to serious stabbings or glassings.

Insp Brown added: "We will speak to licensees and door staff to see if they have any issues and try to find out the type of people they have inside. Then we have a quick look around wearing the reflective jackets just to make sure it is a reasonable atmosphere in there."

Between April and June, violent crime in the city centre increased by 13 per cent rising to 209 from 185 during the same period last year. But a majority of the drunken crime occurs on Friday and Saturday nights.

Police are currently identifying the pubs and clubs which are causing the most trouble and officers have already begun patrolling inside licensed premises in recent weekends.

Insp Brown said: "We have had a very positive reaction from the licensees and the public. We work with the licence holder and door staff to make sure they are not experiencing any problems and carry out a visible check of the premises."

He stressed revellers will not be dragged off dancefloors or pulled from the bar.

Instead, with the support of floor walkers and door staff, clubbers are asked to come to the entrance then spoken to or taken outside.

Insp Brown said: "I have worked recent weekends and there has been a reasonable atmosphere in the city. There are not big gangs looking for trouble and I believe it is a relatively safe place to go out. But violent crime has increased over the year and it is something we want to prevent."

Extra officers are being moved from other investigations such as burglary and car theft to add numbers to weekend patrols.

Nightsafe manager Karen Crossan said: "Licensed premises should be part of the patrol strategy. It makes the public aware officers are around and monitoring their behaviour, and gives reassurance to licensees and door staff who feel they can speak to them."