There's more violence during full moons, say police
06.06.07
A full moon doesn't just encourage werewolves. It also brings out the
worst in the Great British Hooligan, police have discovered.

Cases of anti- social behaviour rose noticeably on the brightest nights,
according to a study by the Sussex force.

"There is definitely a trend," said Inspector Andy Parr, who is
responsible for patrols in Brighton at weekends. "With each full moon the
number of disturbances recorded increased significantly."

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The force is now preparing to put extra officers on the streets during
full moons in a bid to curb unruly behaviour.

Inspector Parr, who led the study, said its findings are too striking to
dismiss as coincidence.

He compared the number of violent crimes recorded in the region last year
with the date of each full moon and discovered a distinct correlation.

"I'm aware that this is just one of many things that can influence public
disorder but if you speak to ambulance staff they will tell you exactly
the same," he said.

"It may be dismissed as an old wives' tale but there's plenty of other
research to suggest that the moon has an impact on human behavioural
patterns.

"Last weekend we had a full moon and it was busier in Brighton than it has
been previously."

This is not the first time that a link between full moons and extremes in
human behaviour has been identified.

A study published by German scientists in 2000 claimed the full also
sparked a rise in binge drinking.

They checked the police arrest reports and blood-alcohol tests of 16,495
offenders. Most of those with an excess of 2ml of alcohol per 100ml of
blood - drunk, under German law - had been caught during the five-day full
moon cycle.

Another study, published in 1998, discovered a rise in violent incidents
among the 1,200 inmates at Armley Jail in Leeds during the days either
side of a full moon.

During the first and last quarter of each lunar month there was a marked
increase in aggressive incidents.

But during the other period of every lunar month, there were far fewer
incidents and none at all on some days.

The Daily Mail's astrologer Jonathan Cainer said Inspector Parr had shown
"great courage" by publicly making the link between anti- social behaviour
and a full moon.

"Privately it's not just the police who acknowledge that more dramatic
things happen around the full moon," he said.

"The fire brigade and ambulance service will both say exactly the same.

"The ocean tides rise and fall with the moon and so do the tides of human
emotion. At new moon our inner seas are deep but still.

"At full moon it is as if they are being furiously whipped up by a wind.
Full moon aggression can, however, be turned into motivation. That's why
many people achieve more during a full moon.

"But the reason why we have the word "lunatic" is because people famously
go crazy when the moon is full. So, now that we have official confirmation
of how a full moon can provoke violent crime, the only solution is to give
the moon an Asbo.

"It's clearly inciting people to disobey the law and behave in a reckless
manner."

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There's more violence during full moons, say police