SWINDON'S police chief has hit back at claims by a senior judge that the town is becoming more violent.

Judge John McNaught Swindon's most senior judge said he felt nervous about walking through the town centre after dark.

He said he shared concerns about booze-fuelled trouble late at night.

And his comments came just weeks after the death of father-of-two Mick Love.

But Chief Superintendent Andrew Tatam, the divisional commander for the borough, said fears about thuggish behaviour needed to be put into context.

He said violent crime had actually fallen for two years running.

In the 12 months to April 2004, it fell by nearly three per cent, meaning 43 fewer people became victims.

He said: "We do not ever underplay the importance of violent crime to the victim and we never underestimate the impact of the fear of crime on others.

"We constantly work to ensure that these trends in crime reduction continue

to improve.

"Violent crime in the town centre and Old Town also needs to be viewed in proportion to the thousands of people who visit the area every

night and the buoyant impact this has on local businesses.

"The level of problems that do occur are actually disproportionately low."

He added the overall crime rate for Swindon fell by 4.5 per cent a drop of 855 incidents.

Judge McNaught told the Advertiser: "I feel nervous if I come back from London on the evening train and have to walk through the town centre to my car.

"I am wary about walking through the town late at night."

Last month, the Advertiser reported on two horrific unprovoked attacks on revellers in the town centre that occurred within hours of each other.

Rob Spour, 21, was left with two fractured eye sockets after a brutal attack in the Brunel Rooms.

Meanwhile, Aaron Parker, 18, was left for dead after he was set upon by a violent gang.