MORE people are socialising in Hull city centre but booze-related crime and hospital visits have decreased, according to the latest figures.
In the two years since Hull secured its Purple Flag status, alcohol-related and violent crime has fallen 7 per cent at "key times" over the weekends.
But the number of visitors to the city centre has risen by 10 per cent since last year.
The Purple Flag is awarded to town centres deemed safest during the evening and nightlife.
On a tour of Old Town ahead of the Purple Flag awards in November, Humberside police and crime commissioner Matthew Grove said he would not have brought his family for a drink in the centre ten years ago but would happily do so now.
He said: "What I can see on an evening now is we have a better balance of people. Young and old, rich and poor, people having a good time in different ways.
"It is no longer dominated by rowdy, drunk individuals and because of the mix of people, it almost polices itself.
"This places less reliance upon robust policing so issues are nipped in the bud before they escalate."
According to figures collated by Citysafe, alcohol-related and violent crime has been recorded up to this summer at levels of about 3 per cent lower than for the same period last year and 7 per cent lower than in 2012.
Falling crime levels is also reflected in figures for admissions to the accident and emergency department at Hull Royal Infirmary for patients with alcohol intoxication issues.
There were 7 per cent fewer people seen in A&E for alcohol withdrawal or intoxication up to July this year than for the same time last year, which is an ongoing downward trend since the spring of 2012.
The improvements made to the city centre stretches further than policing, with Hull City Council improving the lighting and the Holy Trinity Church's Street Angels helping revellers in need, alleviating the strain on the emergency services.
Hull is one of 42 UK cities to have the Purple Flag status and it formed an important part of Hull UK City of Culture 2017 bid.
Kathryn Shillito, the city centre manager for Hull Bid, said: "The evening economy isn't just about drinking, it is about showing vibrancy and choice.
"The police have worked really hard to deal with drink-fuelled antisocial behaviour and getting it out of the city and that has created a feeling of safety.
"The council has done a lot with lighting and signs, too, and now we have a city centre to be proud of.
"When you are trying to attract more people to the city, they want to feel safe and looked after."
Hull will find out if it has retained its Purple Flag for a third year on November 1 – something Mr Grove feels confident will happen.
He said: "Two years ago, the city won the Purple Flag status and since that time, we have not sat back on our laurels, work has continued to make the city a better, more vibrant place to be.
"I have every confidence it will retain its Purple Flag status, which is something everyone in the city should be immensely proud of."
'Being a Purple Flag city centre has made a difference'Purple Flag champion Linda Levantiz, landlady of the Bonny Boat in Trinity House Lane, will drape her bar in purple bunting and balloons to celebrate Hull's status as a safe city centre all week.
At the weekend, punters were given purple floral necklaces, and beer mats promote the Purple Flag.
She said: "I don't get many opportunities to do anything like this for the town centre. I think it is brilliant and all the customers love it, too.
"We don't get much crime at all and we like to think we are a very safe bar.
"We have our own door staff but they are there more to control the crowds rather than disperse trouble.
"Being in a Purple Flag city centre has made a difference to us and there is always plenty of policing down here on a night.
"We know that if we did have any bother, which we haven't in a long time, the police are there."
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