THE new licensing law intended to curb drunken violence on the streets at closing time is instead set to create a new “chucking out” time at midnight.

The biggest trade body for bar operators said 90% of its members had applied for an extra one or two hours on their licences beyond the current 11pm. The majority are opting for midnight.

The prospect of near-simultaneous closing for most pubs when the law comes into force on November 24 has alarmed police.

Chris Allison, lead officer on licensing at the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo), said forces across the country had contacted him with concerns about the simultaneous closing time falling an hour later than at present.

“People will have drunk more and are more likely to get into fights,” he said. “What we will have to deal with is a large number of people coming on to the streets at the same time, fighting for services that may not be there.”

One of the government’s main justifications for the new licensing law was to vary closing hours and curb drunken violence on the streets at weekends.

“Flexible opening is being introduced in large part because over a period of years the police have said this will make a difference to the level of alcohol-related violence,” said Tessa Jowell, the culture secretary, earlier this year.

Figures from the drinks industry and local authorities suggest, however, that most of the 81,000 pubs and bars in England and Wales will be closing at the same time or within an hour of each other.

The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) said that of 30,000 of its members who responded to a poll, 90% had applied for an extra one or two hours’ opening time with the majority applying to close at midnight.

“Nine out of 10 pubs are looking for an extra hour or possibly two in some cases,” said a spokesman.

Punch Taverns said 64% of its 8,000 pubs had been granted extended licences, mostly until either midnight or 1am on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

A spokesman for Wetherspoon said: “Of our 600 pubs in England and Wales, 99% will be serving alcohol from 9am until midnight, seven days a week. A few will be opening until 1am or 2am at weekends, but no later.

Birmingham city council said it had received 409 applications for late-night opening, most until midnight during the week and 1am at the weekend.

A culture department spokeswoman said: “Local authorities tell us they are seeing a genuine range of licensing hours rather than a shift to a single later terminal hour. Flexible hours will eradicate flashpoints of disorder at 11pm and 2am.”

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