BOSSES of Bradford bars say they are working with the authorities to cut down on drunken anti-social behaviour, after new figures revealed hotspots for offences.
Statistics provided by West Yorkshire Police, in response to a Freedom of Information request by the Telegraph & Argus, listed the "top ten" licensed premises where offences took place in the Bradford district.
The figures showed that between April 1, 2014, and March 26, 2015, 23 offences occurred at Tequila in Glydegate, an increase from nine in the previous year.
Joint second on the list, with 17 offences, were The Queen's Hall Flares in Morley Street; Turls Green, Lloyds No 1 in Aldermanbury. Police also listed the clubs Basement and Candy in Sackville Street, as one address, with 17 offences between them.
A spokesman for Flares pointed out it was a Student Safe bar, used as a designated safe haven by students who might have been attacked on the street, and that offences committed close by but not in the premises were logged under its name.
A spokesman for Wetherspoon, which owns the Turls Green, Eddie Gershon, said the safety of staff and customers was paramount.
"Our management team work closely with the police and licensing officers and we report all incidents where there is concern over the safety or security of persons inside or outside the pub.
"It should be noted that on some occasions, the pub is named in the police call out report, despite the fact that the incident has not occurred in the pub itself."
No-one at the other venues could be contacted for comment.
Chief Inspector Suzanne Akeroyd said police worked closely with bars and pubs in Bradford and Keighley and had a number of operations and initiatives to deter alcohol related disorder.
She said: "Alcohol can have a major role in offending and when there are reports of incidents at premises we attend and take action. Police and partner agencies also focus on trying to prevent problems before they begin.
"As part of their licensing conditions all night time economy establishments in Bradford centre are now members of the Home Office approved City Centre Beat scheme which has played a notable role in reducing offending.
"Members are provided with weekly briefings, posters of prolific offenders, a radio link to other members, a smartphone app through which offenders can be viewed, police and council CCTV operators and city centre wardens. Regular Pubwatch meetings are also held with premises through which intelligence is shared and pub watch bans for prolific offenders are organised.
"We also continue to run Operation Gridiron in which officers are deployed in Bradford city centre on Friday and Saturday nights and Bank Holidays to deal with potential public order issues before they escalate.
"We also continue to run our Operation Northdale campaign to try to make revellers aware of the dangers of excess alcohol consumption and work closely with the Street Angels who try and ensure the safety of vulnerable revellers.
"Safespot is also in place to provide a safe refuge for students and access to a specially vetted taxi company."
Street Angels chairman Paul Sunderland said the response they got from revellers was generally positive and fights did not happen as much as people might think.
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