POLICE officers are pushing for the abolition of 24-hour licensing as figures show forces face thousands more alcohol-related crimes than they did before the legislation was introduced.

Many forces have seen anti-social behaviour increase by almost half and witnessed more frequent violence since November 2005 when pubs and clubs could apply to stay open all night, according to figures released under the Freedom of Information Act.

The statistics show that 12 of England and Wales's 43 forces have seen an average 46% increase in the number of anti-social incidents they dealt with to 13,500 a month by the end of last year.

Separate figures show that 16 forces reported a rise of 5% in alcohol-related assaults, harassment and criminal damage crimes.

Senior officials at the Police Federation are calling for a review and say they remain opposed to the legislation.

David Davis, the shadow home secretary, said it was evidence of the "misery" caused to communities by the government's changed legislation.

"Gordon Brown's response has simply been to try and spin his way out of trouble," he said. "He should stop dithering and start acting to restore order to our streets."

The latest figures for Humberside show 378 alcohol-related anti-social behaviour incidents in one month, more than 15 times greater than the 23 recorded in the same timespan when legislation was introduced.

In Durham, anti-social behaviour incidents linked to alcohol increased by 300% to 686 in October, compared with 165 in December 2005.

But Cheshire — another of the 22 forces that provided data — reported a sharp fall in the numbers of alcohol-related assaults, harassment and criminal damage crimes in the two years since the law change.

Jan Berry, chairman of the Police Federation, said: "We warned that changing licensing hours without changing the drinking culture would cause a drain on our limited resources. More officers, not less are needed, alongside a thorough review of 24-hour licensing."

Berry said police officers were being taken off the beat during the day because more were required to cover the longer hours when pubs and clubs were open.

"The federation is opposed to the idea of 24-hour licensing. The government argued that bringing it in would lessen alcohol-related crime," said Alan Gordon, the federation's vice-chairman.

"In fact the reverse has happened and the violence associated with drinking has escalated. Before pubs and clubs would all close at the same time and the police effort would be concentrated over a relatively small period of time. "Now with staggered closing times, alcohol-related problems are stretched over a much longer period putting police resources under considerable additional pressure."

The findings come ahead of the publication of a government review ordered by Gordon Brown last July.

The review had been expected to dismiss concerns that binge drinking and anti-social behaviour had increased since licensing laws were relaxed.

The Home Office said the change in law had only resulted in a tiny number of premises staying open for 24 hours and that its own research last year showed a drop in some crimes.

A spokesman said: "These figures do not tell the whole story and use shaky methodology. A report produced by professional statisticians based on data from 30 forces published in July 2007 showed serious violent crime over [the] whole night fell by 5% after the Licensing Act came into force with a fall in less serious wounding offences as well."

"The act has not led to 24-hour drinking — most premises have simply added an extra hour or two at weekends," he said.

"We will continue to encourage local authorities and the police to take decisive action to fine premises or remove licences where there is trouble and we have given the police a range of tools and powers to clamp down on licensees and individuals who abuse the laws."

The joint Department for Culture, Media and Sport and Home Office report into the impact of the licensing laws was being finalised and would be published shortly, the spokesman added.

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