When drinkers raised a glass to new Leeds pub opening hours

That all changed in 1988 when licensing laws were updated allowing pubs across the city to remain open all day.

And according to official figures at the time, cases of assault and other violent offences were down by a whopping 87 per cent following the change.

Detailed statistics showed there were 23 city centre assaults between 3pm and 5.30pm in the fortnight before the rule change and just three in the two weeks immediately after.

But police were reluctant to draw conclusions.

Chief Insp David Simmons cautioned: “While there has been this trend in early days, we are not yet ready to draw positive conclusions and are continuing to monitor the situation.”

Publicans across Leeds welcomed the extension and said it had made a huge difference to trade. The new opening hours for pubs, from 11am to 11pm, came into effect in August 1988.

The Licensing Act 1988 replaced the Licensing Act 1964, which itself replaced the 1912 Act. Licenses were first brought in in 1872 to control the gin trade.

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