A MASSIVE operation to make Banbury a safe place during Christmas is being planned by police, licensees, the ambulance service, and Cherwell District Council.

The campaign will aim to control binge drinking, prevent assaults, and reduce domestic violence by encouraging revellers to drink sensibly and within their limits.

Under-age drinkers will also be targeted.

Insp Mike Lynch, based at Banbury police station, said: "We know alcohol is a major factor in late night violence - when people get too drunk to know what they are doing and too drunk to control themselves."

Police plan to step up patrols in a bid to spot potential troublemakers at an early stage - and will issue £80 fixed penalty notices to some offenders.

Insp Lynch said: "People suffering from the effects of alcohol who are causing problems but are still capable of producing identification will be given fixed penalty notices. Others will be arrested."

Police are also asking pubs and clubs not to run promotions such as happy hours, 'drink all you can for a fixed price, and 'free drinks on entry.' Insp Lynch said: "We encourage sensible promotions such as those recommended by the British Beer and Pub Association, including discounts on drinks over the whole drinking period. But we strongly discourage promotions that result in excess drinking over short periods, particularly in the early evening."

He warned: "The police will target premises that add to crime and disorder in the area, and will seek to review any licence where managers or bar staff act irresponsibly."

The ambulance service will have all emergency vehicles at the ready, but has appealed to people to think before they dial 999.

Paramedic Robin Finlayson said: "We are asking people who are drunk not to ring for an ambulance. We are not a 'get you home' service.

"We should only be called where there is a serious injury or a person is unconscious. Otherwise it is a waste of a resource and could prevent the paramedics attending a real emergency."

He added: "And we will not tolerate violence to ambulance crews or to our vehicles."

Cherwell District Council is introducing Nightsafe - a scheme intended to improve the town centre environment and stop under age drinking.

Julie Wileman, the council's Nightsafe officer, said: "We are drawing up a 'best practice' guidance for licensees, and have invited the licensed trade to take part in the scheme. We will be looking at age-related alcohol sales and working to prevent under age drinking. Ten town centre premises have already signed up."

Pubwatch spokesman Matt Scotney said licensees would work together to spot troublemakers.

He said: "We will be in contact with each other, and when a person is ejected from one place we will issue warnings to prevent him or her getting into somewhere else."