16495All-day drinking laws will lead to increased crime as police resources are stretched to breaking point, according to officers in Westbury.

PC Kevin Herman and PC Bill Brown, of Westbury traffic unit, said they are bracing themselves for what they believe will be an increase in drink-driving and alcohol-fuelled violence.

Speaking during a routine Friday night patrol of west Wiltshire, PC Herman said the culture of excessive drinking would not be eased if and when 24-drinking venues are given the go-ahead.

PC Herman said: "If you were to do anything to increase crime, surely it would be by having 24-hour drinking."

The officers said alcohol-related offences would become a greater problem as a direct result of stretched resources.

On the Friday night I spent with the traffic police, the patrol car covered Trowbridge, Melksham, Westbury and Chippenham targeting drink drivers and drunken revellers.

It is this sort of regulated policing that PC Brown and PC Herman fear could soon be stretched beyond effective operating levels.

PC Herman said: "We have not got the staff to provide adequate cover to police it. At the moment we concentrate our responses to the point in time we know we will be needed, so there are increased staffing levels on.

"But there would have to be massive shifts so that you could address the problem."

During the shift two drivers were pulled over by the officers, but both tested negative for drink driving.

Ian Pepler, of Trowbridge, was one of the drivers stopped. He said he was already aware of the dangers of drink-driving, which shows no signs of decreasing in north and west Wiltshire according to figures coming out of the 2004/05 festive blitz.

"I'm totally against it. I pay for taxis if I have a drink. Drink driving will cost lives," Mr Pepler said.

"I tell my daughter her car will be destroyed if I ever catch her drink-driving."

PC Brown said many people still believe that having one drink and driving is acceptable.

But he said there were a number of factors that could lead to people being over the limit.

Despite increased publicity about the dangers of drink- driving the message does not seem to be getting through.

PC Brown said: "If you are going to drink, don't drive, and if you are going to drive, don't drink. It's simple.

"There is a very wrong and dangerous culture that you can have something to drink and still drive."