Police call for bigger city centre alcohol zone

York is famed for the hundreds of pubs, bars and restaurants crammed into the city centre's medieval streets, attracting thousands of revellers from across the country every year.

However, the Micklegate area has long attracted hordes of drinkers including hen and stag parties, although concerns have been expressed over a growing binge-drinking culture in York.

A designated zone to monitor the number of licensed premises in the city centre was introduced five years ago to try to prevent drink-related offences.

However, North Yorkshire Police figures have indicated the cumulative impact zone (CIZ) should be extended to include more of the city's 322 licensed premises.

Officers submitted a report to York Council in January to request that the current CIZ boundaries should be revised to reflect "changing patterns of crime and disorder" in the city.

This would contain three per cent more of the area inside the city walls but would include 20 per cent more of all crime.

The number of offences within the current CIZ has fallen. There were 418 assaults and criminal damage offences in the zone last year, compared with 748 in 2007.

The Yorkshire Post revealed in February that councillors had agreed to consult on extending the CIZ, which is now due to include Market Street, Lendal, Coney Street and Blake Street. However, Blossom Street and Tower Gardens are expected to be removed from the existing CIZ.

York Council's gambling and licensing acts committee will meet next Friday when the planned extension of the CIZ should be approved.