Watford Council has become the first authority outside Westminster to stop licensing new late-night venues in its town centre.
The move has raised concerns over the spread of such policies ahead of licensing reform.
Jeffrey Leib, a Watford licensing officer, said: "The town centre has reached saturation point with violent crime out of kilter with the rest of the police division."
Lawyer Jeremy Allen, an expert in licensing law, said: "In reality, companies applying for a new licence are being discriminated against and pre-judged by the behaviour of others and it’s not right."
The move has raised concerns over the spread of such policies ahead of licensing reform.
Jeffrey Leib, a Watford licensing officer, said: "The town centre has reached saturation point with violent crime out of kilter with the rest of the police division."
Lawyer Jeremy Allen, an expert in licensing law, said: "In reality, companies applying for a new licence are being discriminated against and pre-judged by the behaviour of others and it’s not right."
