A MAJOR crackdown on drunken violence and underage drinking is being planned in Evesham and the Vale as new licensing laws came into effect at midnight last night.

More than 200 'sting' operations will be carried out throughout the West Midlands in an attempt to trap rogue licensees and tackle drunken loutish behaviour.

And a meeting in South Worcestershire tomorrow will see various agencies, including the police and fire services, and local authorities including Wychavon and Worcester councils, sign-up to an agreement locking them into a united strategy against problems caused by teenage drinkers and yobs.

The Memorandum of Understanding and Joint Enforcement Protocol was also signed by Worcestershire's Trading Standards department and Worcester fire brigade.

The multi-agency approach to the legislation will cover issues including anti-social behaviour and binge drinking.

Wychavon's Executive Board Member for Environment, Cllr Terry Spencer, said: "There have been a lot of delays on this legislation and Wychavon has been proactive in getting the wheels in motion.

"It is great news that agencies from across South Worcestershire have pledged to work together on this issue of national importance.

Licensing committee chairman Cllr Don Lawley added: "The Licensing Act allows pubs and clubs to have a flexible approach to opening hours.

"It also allows stricter controls to be imposed on particular licensed premises to try and reduce noise and disturbances from them."

The complication measures included in the Licensing Act 2003 - which has moved responsibility for licensing premises from the courts to local authorities - has caused widespread confusion in some areas.

While some authorities have so far dealt with only around 30 per cent of applications for varying hours, the figure in Wychavon is 100 per cent.

Communications advisor Anne-Marie Darroch said that - supermarkets apart - there had only been one application in the district for 24-hour opening and that had been granted.

The Tesco supermarket in Worcester Road, Evesham, has applied for a 24-hour licence.

However, further information is still being sought from the company, so the Council has approved the application in principle but is withholding the new licence until the information has been provided.

In the meantime, the store will be able to sell alcohol between the hours of 8am and 11pm.

Under the new Act, pubs can stay open for up to 24 hours a day, although most have applied for a few hours late at night at weekends and special occasions.

However, critics of the legislation have claimed that the extra drinking time will put intolerable strains on hospital accident and emergency departments and police resources.

But South Worcestershire police, spokesman Richard Bull said: "We are confident that the changes in the legislation will not have the negative impact some have predicted. We do not, therefore, anticipate any unforeseen difficulties in policing the new legislation."