Many couples over 40 are being put off going into the region's town and city centres for evenings out a senior West Midlands Police officer said yesterday.

However, Assistant Chief Constable Dave Shaw denied that any bar and nightclub districts could be described as "no go areas".

He also said people from all generations had become more inclined to go into entertainment districts in recent years.

Mr Shaw was speaking as he launched a new West Midlands Police campaign aimed at stamping out drink-fuelled anti-social behaviour.

He said: "I want to reject categorically that there is any single no go area in the West Midlands.

"But there are sizable age groups who do not want to go out.

"We do not see 40 to 50 year old couples coming into town centres, but I think this situation is getting better."

He said older generations would not come into town centres because much of the market was geared towards younger people. The problem should be dealt with by the police, councils and the entertainment industry, Mr Shaw added.

The new forcewide Cringe Drinking campaign has been launched to coincide with the new Licensing Act, which comes into effect today.

The operation will involve officers using new powers to crackdown on unruly drinkers, and off licence, pub and supermarket licensees who "turn a blind eye to binge and under-age drinking", Mr Shaw said.

Increased high-visibility patrols will take place on Broad Street and in other entertainment districts up until Christmas.

Measures being rolled out to curb anti-social drinking include greater use of fixed penalty fines, confiscating drinks, and the use of CCTV cameras to defuse trouble before it starts.

A major advertising campaign which highlights how excessive drinking can cause behavioural problems is also being launched.

BPNOV24