POLICE claim recorded violent crime in St Helens town centre has dropped to its lowest level in more than a year.

The number of violent incidents - such as fights, threatening behaviour, assaults and public order offences - in the town centre ward during January stood at 83, down around a fifth on January, 2004, according to police statistics.

Police also claim there was a marked fall in flashpoints last December (97) compared to Dec 2003 (158) in the ward that includes Peasley Cross, Fingerpost and Greenbank areas.

However, figures only show incidents that have been reported to police. Some skirmishes that happen in nightclubs or on the streets may not be reported.

Detection rates, meanwhile, were also said to be up last month, with seven out of 10 people suspected of committing violent offences either warned or arrested.

Officers believe they are getting a firm grip on the flashpoints that have seen reported violence rocket in the town-centre following a huge increase in clubbers and bar goers attracted to the night scene.

The zone is one of the areas piloting the Home Office-led reassurance project, which aims to reduce the fear of crime and give the public the chance to prioritise issue they want police to tackle.

Inspector Peter Costello, who heads the town centre ward, told the Star: "The funding of the taxi marshalls has helped cut incident at hot spots, and the clubs where there have been problems have really come onside and heeded warnings and advice we have given them."

He believes warnings given to premises suspected of serving underage clubbers and serving "outrageously" drunk revellers have contributed to the dip in trouble.

And closer monitoring of CCTV camera footage has also been a factor, claims Insp Costello, who added: "We've had high visibility patrols running and officers in the CCTV unit at Wesley House so as soon as something is about to break out we get someone there."

Bars and nightclubs, meanwhile, have adopted a policy which will see them attempt to ban troublemakers from their premises.

Anyone found guilty of a serious assault, drug dealing, disorder, or damaging property could be banned from the premises where the offence was committed under civil law.