From 9m agoPolice criticise government's 'late announcement' of 5am pub closure for England's World Cup matchThe National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) has criticised the timing of the government’s decision to let pubs stay open until 5am for England’s World Cup match against Mexico.Keir Starmer announced yesterday that pubs across England and Wales will be able to stay open late for the match, which kicks off at 1am on Monday.England football fans outside a London pub to watch and celebrate England's 2-1 victory over DR Congo on Wednesday. Photograph: Kai Johnson/Jna Press/Nexpher/ZUMA Press Wire/ShutterstockThe government had initially rejected calls to relax licensing laws beyond what it has already allowed. The Home Office granted pubs special dispensation to stay open until 1am for England matches in the knockout stages that kick off between 5pm and 9pm, and until 2am for games that start between 9pm and 10pm.In a joint statement, chief constable Mark Roberts, NPCC lead for football policing, and acting chief constable Scott Green, NPCC lead for alcohol licensing and harm reduction, said the U-turn on pub opening times meant officers were having to adapt their plans and take officers away from communities.The statement said: