PUBS and clubs could be forced to pay towards the costs of policing the town centre on weekends under new proposals put forward by Home Secretary David Blunkett today.

And senior police officers in Newport have welcomed the move which is aimed at freeing up their resources to tackle low level, anti- social crime.

The plans are part of a radical White Paper on police reform from Mr Blunkett, which was due to go before the House of Commons today.

Chief Inspector Carl Close said: "With such a large number of licensed premises in the town centre such a scheme could be a viable option in Newport. "There would obviously need to be close co-operation between the licensed traders, police and the local authority."

Inspector Eddie Mayne said: "Ultimately, if they are taking the lion's share of the profits then maybe they should contribute and maybe the food outlets which are responsible for keeping people in town later should also pay."

But the town's pubs and clubs are all strongly opposed to the new scheme. Ray Lawrence, manager of Zanzibar's, said: "We appreciate the problem the police have on weekends. It is a thankless task.

"However, David Blunkett is also planning to loosen the licensing laws. "We would say that he can't have the penny and the bun. You cannot expect people to be able to drink 24 hours and then behave themselves."

Jane Kean, landlady of Mustang Sallys, in Market Street, said: "Maybe the council should have thought about this issue before they gave out so many licences which has seen the town saturated with large theme pubs.

"It has become hard enough for us small independent pubs to survive without any extra costs."

Trevor Lewis, landlord of the Lamb in Bridge Street, said: "I do believe that landlords should be responsible for the policing of their pub, but as for what happens outside on the street, all citizens have a role to play."

And Chris Morgan, acting manager of the Pen and Wig on Stow Hill, said: "Business is very competitive in the town centre at the moment. " I do not think it would be fair to make the smaller pubs pay."

*PICTURED: The Pen and Whig which is against the proposal.