THE Government today held up York as an example to the nation of how best to tackle drunken disorder and violence.

Home Officer minister George Howarth told a Crime Concern conference that a new law would soon force local authorities to copy York's pioneering anti-drunkenness initiatives.

But as the city came under the national, and even international, spotlight on satellite and terrestrial TV and radio stations this morning, there was concern that York could be picking up an unwanted reputation as a hotspot for drunken violence.

Gillian Cruddas, chief executive of the York Tourism Bureau, said: "We don't want people to think York is unsafe because it isn't. Looking at crime figures nationally, we are well down and we need to make that point.

"We are trying to encourage visitors to stay, and we have to convince them that York is safe and secure.

"But I think the fact that we are being seen as a pioneering authority in doing something about it is a plus point."

BBC Breakfast, GMTV, Sky TV and Radio 5 Live all carried reports on York's initiatives to introduce toughened "safety" glasses in pubs, and its use of laws to ban habitual drunkards from buying alcohol.

The King's Arms, on Kings Staith, featured live on GMTV because for two years it has been using toughened glasses, which shatter harmlessly when broken.

Landlord Mike Hartley said: "The glasses cannot be used as a weapon if they are broken. They just break into little bits."

The Government plans to introduce measures in its Crime and Disorder Bill to oblige local authorities to create partnership schemes between landlords, police and businesses. York has led the way, with its policy on banning troublemakers from every pub in the city and the reviving of the Inebriates Act to ban habitual drunkards.

Licensing officer PC Arthur Swaine said recently: "York is further down the line with licensing initiatives than anywhere else in the country."

In law, magistrates only have the power to ban troublemakers from specific pubs, because of a legal precedent. But in York, all landlords have to obey police exclusion orders as a condition of their licence.

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