PUB and bar bosses are divided over fears new licensing laws will delay violence.

Government proposals to combat binge drinking by introducing continental-style 24-hour licensing laws seem to have fallen short.

Most bars and pubs have applied for just an extra hour or two.

With the prospect of later, simultaneous pub closing times when the law comes into force on November 24, there are worries there will be no positive impact on the levels of alcohol-related violence.

A spokesman for the Association of Chief Police Officers said: "Some forces have expressed concerns the new licensing laws will simply delay closing times."

Nathan Gordon, manager of The Crown and Thistle pub, The Terrace, Gravesend, says the extra drinking hours could potentially increase pub violence and binge drinking.

Mr Gordon, whose pub has not applied for extra hours, said: "All this is doing is encouraging things to go on a bit longer with people spilling out of bars and pubs just that bit later and that bit drunker.

"I can't see it being any different, an extra hour is just an extra hour of drinking and frankly, we've got enough drunken idiots on the streets.

"As a pub manager you have a social responsibility anyway not to serve people who are already intoxicated, the last thing we want to do is cause social unrest.

"Gravesend already has a lot of binge drinkers pouring out the pubs and racing through town getting into trouble all it means is they are just going to be more drunk."

Pete Edwards, owner of Crush Bar, in Spital Street, Dartford, does not think extra drinking hours will make a difference to drunken violence on the streets.

Mr Edwards said: "It just doesn't happen like that.

"I am on a street where several bars are open until 2am, but people expect to be out later and therefore they pace themselves.

"It won't make any difference, violence is not going to go up and nothing will change, people already have the choice to stay out later if they want."

Kent Police were unavailable for comment.