What the Sunday papers said

The new licensing legislation will fuel the incidence of rape and murder, according to an internal police report. Cases of murder, rape, physical assault, domestic violence and drink-driving are all likely to increase when opening hours are relaxed in November. The Scotland Yard report, which runs to 30 pages, recommends that riot squads be on call 24 hours a day to deal with trouble. The new law will "fuel" Britain's drinking cutlure, the report added. - Sunday Times​

Punch Taverns is preparing to swallow up much of Spirit Group next month in a bid worth up to £2bn. Punch, which recently bought Avebury Taverns, is said to be interested in buying up to 70 per cent of Spirit's 2,000-odd pubs. A report by brokers ABN Amro said a deal would make strategic and financial sense. - Sunday Express​

Punch Taverns is in talks with Mitchells & Butlers with a view to mounting a combined bid for Spirit Group worth more than £2.5bn. M&B has appointed Citigroup to advise on the deal, while Punch has hired Morgan Stanley to run its slide rule over the group. News of the talks between the two pub and bar giants may prompt City regulators to clarify their intentions to the stock market. - Sunday Times​

Robert Tchenguiz, property tycoon and pub entrepreneur, is believed to have been approached to help finance a new UK car manufacturing venture. Corporate troubleshooter David James, the man credited with rescuing the ill-fated Millenium Dome from financial collapse, tried to by MG Rover over the summer but lost out to Chinese group Nanjing. He now wants to get Tchenguiz on board to fund a new venture to make spports cars in the UK and Eastern Europe. - Independent On Sunday​