A Pubwatch scheme in the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the European mainland, continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

is a partnership where licensees unify as an independent group to preempt crime and anti-social behaviour in licensed premises. Founded in the late 1990s by licensees Bill Stone and Raoul De Vaux, along with police superintendent Malcolm Eidmans, the Pubwatch organization works closely with local authorities and intends to maintain a safe and secure social environment for customers and staff. Law enforcement supports the Pubwatch, as it works in concert with public safety campaigns, and alcohol awareness initiatives.

Operations

Pubwatch schemes operate within city limits, towns, and villages across the UK. Customers to a licensed premises that operates a Pubwatch scheme are informed of the operating Pubwatch scheme through the use of advertising media such as posters and window stickers. This allows pub and bar owners to collaborate to deter perpetrators from re-offending by way of a semi-permanent punishment.

Objectives of Pubwatch

* To tackle and prevent anti-social behaviour through effective communication and the prompt reporting of anti-social behaviour and criminal activity. * To promote a sense of security for customer and staff. * To improve police/licensee liaison by providing effective communications through

Two-way radio A two-way radio is a radio that can both transmit and receive radio waves (a transceiver), unlike a broadcast receiver which only receives content. It is an audio (sound) transceiver, a transmitter and receiver in one unit, used for bidirection ...

and dedicated online services such as PubwatchOnline.

Pubwatch Schemes

Pubwatch schemes vary in size and are headed by a coordinator and meet as a group on a regular basis to discuss problems that have occurred on or near licensed premises. Although Pubwatch schemes are supported by police who can offer help and advice, it must be recognised that the scheme is not run by police.

Pubwatch taking action

Pubwatch schemes may take action against individuals for

anti-social behaviour Antisocial behavior is a behavior that is defined as the violation of the rights of others by committing crime, such as stealing and physical attack in addition to other behaviors such as lying and manipulation. It is considered to be disrupti ...

in licensed premises. This action may be in the form of a ban. by way of all of members of the individual scheme exercising their common law right to exclude someone from their pubs. The group will not tolerate behaviour such as verbal abuse, violence, theft, drug taking/selling and vandalism. A vote to determine the action against these individuals is called at meetings. Action taken usually ranges from written warnings, to 'banning orders' where the individual, for a set period of time, is not allowed to enter any of the licensed premises operated by the members of the Pubwatch group. Some individuals who have been subjected to a Pubwatch banning order have unsuccessfully sought

judicial review Judicial review is a process under which executive, legislative and administrative actions are subject to review by the judiciary. A court with authority for judicial review may invalidate laws, acts and governmental actions that are incomp ...

of the decisions.

Enforcement

The effectiveness of the Pubwatch initiative is mainly dependent on good communication and effective distribution of information. The preferred way of communication is by two-way radios that are available to each member. The police can be contacted directly on these radios. Individuals who are the subject of banning orders are identified by photographs that are circulated after action is taken against them. The photographs are normally circulated manually by police officers but digital circulation is being increasingly used by the schemes for improved efficiency.

References

{{Reflist

External links

Pubwatch
on the Metropolitan Police website
National Pubwatch website
Law enforcement in the United Kingdom Anti-social behaviour