A spate of violence in Liverpool's clubland is believed to be down to low-level yobs taking advantage of quieter streets to target victims.
The city centre has been hit by a series of worrying incidents over recent weeks, including several blade attacks.
A number of assaults also appear to have been motivated by homophobia and transphobia.
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The attacks have caused anger and disgust across Merseyside and led to calls for a greater police presence in the busiest nightspots.
Merseyside Police has said patrols have been stepped up and a 24-hour presence is being maintained in key areas as the force attempts to prevent further trouble.
One of those on the frontline of the battle today stressed the violence was rooted in what was happening in the streets - and not in the venues that are seeing increasing numbers return as lockdown restrictions ease.
John Hughes, CEO of the Liverpool Nightlife CIC, whose members include more than 200 bars, clubs and pubs in the city, said he has been involved in discussions with the police, Liverpool Council and the Police and Crime Commissioner over what he believes to be factors influencing recent trouble.
Among them is the presence of drug dealing gangs whose rivalry sometimes spills into violence, and whose members are taking advantage of quieter streets in the early hours to target people as they head home.
Mr Hughes said: "I want to make clear that what has been happening is nothing to do with the bars. What is going on, is going on in the streets.
"It's an issue that I have brought up with the authorities.
"I was really pleased to have a senior police officer and the PCC come out with me, and the mayor is coming out with me later in the month.
"We are all working together to sort the problem out in the streets.
"The issue is we have got low level gangs of dealers that are hanging around and they are seeing people as easy prey.
"Whether they are trying to sell them something or later in the night they are becoming opportunistic, snatching from them or bullying or assaulting them.
"This is an issue the police have been working on and they are trying to make arrests. On the night we went out they arrested three lads and took three knives from them.
"Within the bars, we have had no issue with them because everyone has has been seated - customers can't stand up unless it is to go to the toilet or leave.
"As far as any hospitality venues there has been no issue whatsoever - everyone is concerned about what is going on in the streets."
Mr Hughes said as restrictions continue to ease and the city centre becomes busier, he is hopeful trouble will reduce.
One problem that has hit venues hard during the last 15 months is burglaries, an issue less prevalent pre-pandemic.
He said: "When it is more of a 24 hour city centre and there are more people out and about what we might find is we get less trouble - there will be more taxis, more people, more eyes and ears when it goes back to normal.
"Fewer people often leads to more trouble because there is greater opportunity for those involved."
A number of attacks in the city centre have appeared to have been targeted, including a stabbing in the Concert Square area. A video of what appeared to be a stabbing in Williamson Square also caused outrage.
Several assaults in which the victims have been subjected to homophobic and transphobic abuse have also sparked anger - leading to a protest in the city centre last month.
The victim of one of those, Josh Ormrod, has launched a petition for more police on the streets that has received more than 7,000 signatures in less than a week.
He wrote: "As a central location for Liverpool’s nightlife, we need to feel safe and able to enjoy ourselves in our city without fear of falling victim to yet another senseless act of violence.
"This is becoming less and less possible, and though the police stated that there would be increased patrols, evidently not enough has been done to prevent these occurrences.
"As a victim of one of these assaults, this is very personal to me. I was assaulted by a stranger on Fleet Street in the early hours of the morning while leaving a club, and hospitalised.
"My attack was motivated by homophobia, but I am not the only victim of this bigoted violence - there have been at least five attacks related to sexuality since the beginning of June."
Like Mr Ormrod, Mr Hughes believes a consistent police presence is key to solving the issue.
Mr Hughes, who has spent decades working in the city's nightlife, said foot patrols were crucial to disrupting troublemakers and more effective than officers overseeing busy areas through vehicle patrols.
Merseyside Police said patrols have been increased in recent weeks in response to attacks linked to homophobia and transphobia.
The effort is also a response to other assaults reported to the force, and that of the unprovoked attack that led to the death of Duncan Browne.
Arrests have been made in several of the investigations prompted by those incidents.
The force said it is maintaining a 24-hour presence in the city centre and has a dedicated plan in place for the lifting of restrictions on Monday.
In a statement released on Friday, the force sought to reassure the public that work to keep people safe was ongoing: "As England moves out of lockdown next week and with good weather expected this weekend, we would like to reassure the public that high visibility police patrols will continue across Merseyside to help keep everyone safe.
"Due to a number of unacceptable incidents of violence and hate crime against LGBT+ people in recent weeks, police presence has been stepped up in areas where people are expected to visit bars and licensed premises. There will continue to be a 24-hour police presence in Liverpool city centre."
Chief Inspector Matthew Moscrop, from the Liverpool Community Policing team, said: "After such a long time without our usual freedoms to meet friends and family in venues across Merseyside, it’s understandable that some people may feel daunted to be out in busy areas again. If you're out and feeling this way, please do approach our officers for advice or support.
"One thing we certainly don't want is people feeling apprehensive about going out as they're worried they might face threats or violence due their sexual orientation, gender identity, or for any other reason. I hope that the arrests we have made following recent hate crimes in Liverpool city centre show that police will not tolerate this behaviour under any circumstances."
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