Hospital data 'shows fall in England and Wales violence'

                                Weekend violence remains the biggest problem, says the study

Violent crime is continuing a long-term fall in England and Wales, according to annual figures from NHS hospitals.

Cardiff University looked at data from almost a third of emergency departments and found a 12% fall in injuries from violent incidents in 2013.

It found 235,000 people were treated following a violent attack in 2013 - 32,800 fewer than in the previous year.

The authors said figures mirrored other official crime data and the rising cost of alcohol might have played a role.

The 12% fall is the fifth consecutive year that NHS units have recorded a decrease in violent injuries.