HEREFORDSHIRE'S chief of police says there may be a visible drop in the number of bobbies on the beat when new drinking laws come into effect in November.
Chief Superintendent Kevin Bentley said the new law allowing clubs and pubs to continue serving alcohol through the early hours could leave the force with little option but to withdraw some officers from their current daytime jobs.
He said: "The reality is extending the licensing hours significantly will have a significant impact on policing so police officers will have a duty to stay on duty for extra hours.
"This will have consequences to cost and staffing throughout the rest of the day and raises the question 'where do you want or not want the cops to be?'"
The stark warning came a day after the Hereford Times revealed Play Nightclub's plan to stay open until 4am from Thursdays to Saturdays and for 48 hours continually over the New Year period.
Although the application is yet to be submitted, the Blueschool Street club said it would like to extend its opening times from November in a written statement to remove an existing condition enforcing the nightspot to shut its doors at 1.30am.
Mr Bentley refused to be drawn on Play's proposals, saying "it is very difficult to focus on individual premises" but did expand on the city as a whole.
"Hereford has high levels of alcoholic disorder we feel are not acceptable and we'll make robust challenges to unreasonable applications by pubs and clubs," he said.
"We want the city to be a safe place where all people can come and visit at any time."
These words were echoed by the county's Community Policing Chief Inspector, Adam Thomas. "Our culture has been restricted (by the old laws) for some time but we cannot completely let go of the reigns because the people will go wild," he said.
"Let's not bite off more than we can chew - we don't want to simply move the trouble time from 3am to 5am."
However, the pair both felt the new measures offered Hereford a great chance to address the current drink-related problems.
Meanwhile, two entertainment spots have made licensing history in Herefordshire with their applications.
Euphoria Nightclub in Leominster has secured the county's first late-night licence under the Government's new 24-hour opening laws.
The South Street club will be able to stay open until 3am from November after owner Mark Mifflin successfully applied to the council for an extension of opening hours and provision of entertainment.
And the Wine Vaults in Kington is the first premises to apply for a 24-hour "round the clock" licence to sell alcohol.
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