A plan for all pubs to be open until midnight during the summer today received a cautious welcome from police in south Essex.

The idea of extra time between the end of May and the end of August has come from the Millennium Festival Team of the New Millennium Experience Company.

Local authorities throughout the country are being asked to support the proposal for an extension every evening until midnight as part of the festival.

This is a year long celebration which is taking place throughout the country and is receiving funding from the National Lottery. Today, two police officers in south Essex said they felt the extra hour's opening - if approved by licensing justices - would have little effect on policing in the area.

Kevin Doyland, divisional licensing officer for Basildon police, said the move could be a testing ground for Government proposals to deregulate pub hours.

He said: "The whole process is seen as a modernisation of our licensing laws, and from the police point of view, I don't think we see it in an adverse light.

"If the draft proposal goes through, this period will be used as some sort of measure of the overall effect of deregulation."

Southend police said the extra hour of opening would have a limited effect on officers.

Chief Insp Will Kennedy said: "There are only policing implications when people misbehave. If people act responsibly while in licensed premises, it would not be an issue for us."

However, not everyone is expected to welcome the proposals.

A report by community care director for Southend Council, Graham Woolhouse, said extending pub hours could increase the potential for noise nuisance to residents and general public disorder and disturbance.

He recommended that the council should not be prepared to support the proposal.

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