COUNCILLORS in a Teesside town have decided against re-introducing early pub closing, despite police advice.

Hartlepool would have been the first town in the country to take advantage of new legislation allowing 24 hour drinking to be limited.

However, Hartlepool Borough Council’s licensing committee today (Tuesday, May 7) decided there was not enough evidence to justify closing pubs early and the move could damage the local economy.

Cleveland Police had argued the committee should ban the sale of alcohol across the town between 2am and 6am seven days a week.

Acting Chief Inspector Lee Rukin (CORR), accepted the force’s own figures showed the number of violent drink related crimes had dramatically fallen in the town centre since 24 hour drinking was introduced in 2005 from 1,535 offences to 774 last year.

However, he said crime had fallen generally and the proportion of crime and anti-social behaviour committed between 3am and 6am had gone up from seven per cent to 19 per cent.

Acting Ch Insp Rukin explained there had been a shift in drinking culture and said: “”If we introduce this people might actually come out earlier, at a more sensible time, and the night time economy would be vibrant again.”

Dareb Rezia (CORR) chairman of Hartlepool licensees association argued against introducing the ban.

He noted 40 per cent of pubs and clubs in the town centre have closed since 2006 but blamed cheap alcohol served in supermarkets not 24 hour licensing laws.

He argued banning 24 hour drinking would push the problem underground and people would congregate, in sometimes unsafe locations, to drink or simply leave Hartlepool and go elsewhere.

He said: “The average age of people who come out are 18 to 25 years old, the only know 24 hour licensing law, they don’t know any different.

"We are talking about 4,000 to 5,000 people who are not going to just sit at home but they are going to organise their own parties.”

Jonathan Smith, a solicitor for the association of licensees, said the law required compelling evidence to introduce the ban and the police’s own statistics showed that crime had been falling.

Councillor Ray Wells, committee chairman, said: “It was decided the evidence didn’t justify the ban.”