PUBS and clubs in Swindon and Wiltshire are among the least likely to erupt into booze-fuelled violence than anywhere in the country, figures have revealed.

According to newly-released Home Office figures, Wiltshire's police officers only dealt with 373 violent offences which were in or outside licensed premises in the year to March 2004.

Only the City of London police, where many pubs close after normal office hours, had a lower number of violent incidents at 151.

Swindon Police welcomed the news, saying it was down to the joint efforts of the police and the landlords.

Geoff Hicks, licensing officer for Swindon Police, said: "It has been down to a combined effort with the good management and the supervision which is employed by the licensees.

"This is right through the town together with the briefing to door supervisors and their staff generally.

"The town centre does have an extremly active pub watch scheme where the police force and local traders are able to discuss issues such as drunkenness allied with disorder.

"It's also true to say that having visible police patrols within the town centre has had a very good positive affect on the behaviour of revellers.

"The police mobile CCTV van has also had an encouraging affect on the behaviour of people within the town centre."

In comparison, seven violent attacks take place in the pubs and bars in Avon and Somerset every day, a total of 2,574 during the year.

West Midlands topped the violence league of shame with 4,140 incidents followed by Lancashire (3,910), Devon and Cornwall (3,580) and South Wales (2,895).

The figures were revealed by Home Office Minister Hazel Blears in a Parliamentary written answer to a question by Bath MP Don Foster.

Wiltshire's low figures will reassure critics who fear new licensinlaws, which will allow 24-hour drinking, will lead to more binge drinking and soaring numbers of alcohol-related assaults.

Carl Brown, chairman of the Swindon town centre Pub Watch scheme, said: "I'm not at all surprised that Swindon has come out so well.

"Swindon is a lot better than a lot of other town centres. We do work very hard to try and keep it that way.

"It's down to the vigilance and hard work of the licensees and our work with the police."

Gareth Bethell