VENUES could be stripped of their licences unless they can protect revellers from being attacked on nights out.

Clubs in Oxford have been warned they will be punished unless they can show more is being done to reduce the number of incidents inside their premises.

Figures uncovered by this paper show police have been called to 650 violent or sexual assaults in or near nightclubs in Oxford in the past three years.

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Colin Cook, who chairs Oxford City Council's licensing committee, said this number was way too high.

He said: “It is absolutely too high. I’m really disappointed to hear it is that bad.

“Many years ago most of the crime was happening outside the clubs. The police seem to have got on top of this but now some of the crime that was happening outside has moved indoors.

“Good clubs will be doing what they can to address the problems in their premises.

“Those who are not active will feel the full attention of our officers in encouraging them to behave more responsibly.

“It’s up to them to run their business in a safe manner.

"If they don’t, and they are problem clubs, then they will be called in for a review of their licence.

"If they cannot show how they plan to run the club in a safe way then they will lose it."

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The police.uk website records all crimes reported in venues classified as nightclubs across Oxford city centre.

It shows violent and sexual offences, including common assaults and incidents of grievous bodily harm, have been increasing every year since 2016 - with the majority going unpunished.

In 2018, police responded to 247 reports, up from 198 the year before, and 160 in 2016. In the first three months of this year - the latest available figures - 45 incidents were already reported.

The stats show the majority of these crimes have gone unsolved, either because a suspect couldn't be identified or there was insufficient evidence to prosecute.

Mr Cook said he wanted to see a more concerted effort from venues showing how they are going to bring down these types of offences in the coming months.

He said: “It is always good to see more CCTV in operation and staff being given proper training on how to look out for and protect patrons.

"Anything that clubs can do to stop it, we will be supportive of.

“We will work with the clubs that are having problems but ultimately the management is down to the owners and it is their responsibility to run them in a safe way."

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In March, army man Keenan Samuelson was jailed for nearly ten years after he bit the flesh off a man's face in an unprovoked attack at the Bridge club in Hythe Bridge Street in the early hours of April 8, 2017.

The investigating officer, James Macaro, said the victim's injury, which left him permanently scarred, was the 'worst he'd seen' in his ten year policing career.

In January, 25-year-old Kophie Fisher-Fitzgerald narrowly avoided jail after he lashed out and punched a man in the face at the bar in Atik, Oxford's largest club, in Park End Street in the early hours of August 28, 2017.

Nobody from either nightclub responded to requests for comment about how they plan to reduce violent attacks.

This week Plush Lounge were refused permission to extend their licence for half an hour in its new Frewin Court location due to police concerns about the impact it could have on crime across the city centre.

Although owners told the council that there have been no recorded criminal incidents at Plush in the past year, police feared drunken clubbers were more likely to get into fights or be victims of crime themselves.

Last month we revealed that the streets most closely associated with Oxford's nightlife, Cowley Road and Park End Street, top the list of hotspots most affected by crime.

The Good Night Out Campaign works with clubs and promoters, including the Oxford University Students' Union, to provide staff with training in how to understand, respond to and prevent sexual harassment and assault in their venues.

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Managing director Bryony Beynon, said she was 'shocked but not surprised' by the figures.

She added: "What's more, sexual offences and offences against the person are some of the most underreported crimes, because victims fear that they will either not be believed, or will be blamed, belittled or have their complaint laughed off, so the real figure may be much, much higher.

"When it comes to student bars and clubs, we know that venues can always be doing more to promote a safer environment.

"One of the many suggestions we offer to licensed premises as part of our accreditation scheme is to ensure that all staff have been trained in how to respond to someone who does feel able to come forward.

"Another is to make sure that venues demonstrate clear, immediate consequences for unacceptable behaviour. There should be no safe spaces for perpetrators of sexual harassment or assault."