SOUTH West Surrey MP Virginia Bottomley has added her voice to growing concern over the introduction of new licensing laws which, she says, could lead to the creation of a "yob culture" in Farnham. Mrs Bottomley's concern has come after a senior judge has warned that town centres across Britain are becoming "revolting and dangerous places" and that young people are being turned into "urban savages" because of the rise in alcohol-fuelled violence. And analysis of Home Office crime figures has revealed that the number of violent attacks across Waverley has soared by 68 per cent since 1999 - up from 491 to 825 a year – with alcohol a key cause. Criminal damage across Surrey has also risen by 119 per cent. Mrs Bottomley said: "My constituents are all in favour of people having a good time out. But in Farnham, Godalming and Haslemere, like towns and cities across Britain today, we are in danger of creating not a café culture, but a yob culture. "The consequences of binge drinking are very serious: rowdy behaviour, fights, shop windows smashed in, communities vandalised. People find this intimidating and frightening; they want a government that restores decent values and respect. "Yet Mr Blair is content to unleash 24-hour drinking on our market towns and villages, which will only make this problem worse. It is no wonder that country people feel they have been forgotten by Labour." She added: "The government should delay 24- hour opening until we conquer binge drinking. Only Conservatives will take action, enforcing zero tolerance policing and giving local councils the proper powers to tackle these problems. "As a former magistrate, I am well aware that binge drinking and underage drinking have a direct link to soaring levels of violent crime – no wonder that violent attacks across Waverley have soared by 68 per cent since 1999, and criminal damage is up 119 per cent. It is time to reclaim our streets and make them safer for everyone at night." l Open all hours - nightmare in the making or dream come true? - page 10.
