Police pointed the finger at off-licences for contributing to alcohol fuelled offences in Fenland.

“I want to know if off licences are breaching licence conditions but I need the public’s help to do so,” said PC Phil Richardson, the district’s licensing officer.

“I am working on an off licence watch scheme, which would operate in a similar way to Pubwatch.”

PC Richardson praised March and Wisbech Pubwatch which he says has shared information to prevent trouble-makers from being admitted.

“Its great news that working in this collaborative way has reduced the number of incidents at night-spots so effectively,” he said.

“However, we still have an issue with street drinking and alcohol-related crime and disorder outside of venues.”

The work has reduced pub fights and disorders to the lowest level in some time.

Between September 5 last year and November 9 this year, there were only 23 incidents in Wisbech, says a report by Cambs police.

Venues breaching their license conditions have been brought before Fenland District Council licensing committee and one pub – The Railway, in Whittlesey - was closed until a new tenant and designated premise supervisor was sourced by the brewery.

Cambridgeshire Police and Crime commissioner Councillor Jason Ablewhite, said: “Alcohol remains one of the three biggest lifestyle risk factors for disease and death in the UK, after smoking and obesity.

“Excessive drinking has implications for all of us – individuals and the public services that have to pick up the pieces when things go wrong.”