VIOLENT crime is falling in Huddersfield - and police have vowed the downward trend will continue.

Moves have been under way since summer to crack down on areas where violence and disorder is linked to pubs, clubs or bars.

Superintendent Nigel Hibbert, of Kirklees Police, said: "Huddersfield town centre is a lot safer than it used to be. We want people to come out and enjoy the facilities the town centre has to offer."

A new scheme, called Best Bar None, has recently been launched in Kirklees.

It urges landlords and managers of licensed premises to meet set standards in crime prevention, public safety, preventing public nuisance and protecting children from harm.

Police now have the power to shut pubs, bars and clubs which continue to be at the centre of trouble.

Drinkers responsible for rowdy behaviour face being handed Anti-Social Behaviour Orders.

Supt Hibbert said police were keeping a close eye on where the trouble was happening.

If it is believed to be linked to a pub, bar or club police will talk to the owners in a bid to sort the problem out. If trouble persists, action will follow.

Supt Hibbert said: "If a place has become a problem there will be no surprise when we take firm action.

"We will have tried a more coercive approach from the early days, when the problem was first identified.

"We want to work with licensees to help solve any problems they may have, not by being oppressive but by helping them to run more orderly businesses.

"The problem locations attract our interest, but there tend to be very few of them. The amount of violent crime has fallen in Kirklees since summer."

He said he did not think recently introduced longer licensing hours had led to any more trouble on the streets.

But he vowed tough action will be taken against people who drink heavily and then look for trouble.

"A few individuals can spoil a night out for many," he said.

"We will target them and use Asbos to exclude them from our town centres."

National figures released yesterday showed violent crimes recorded by the police in England and Wales fell by 11% at the end of last year, in spite of the longer drinking laws.

The Home Office said figures for the last three months of 2005 showed a 21% fall in serious violent crime, compared with the same period in 2004. The figures include a six-week period when the police were given £2.5m to target alcohol-related crime.