A national forum for security managers in the pub industry has been set up to look at the trade's problems with crime.
The British Beer and Pub Association's (BBPA) Security Panel's inaugural meeting attracted security managers from around 20 national and regional companies.
Frank Kite, head of security at Burtonwood Brewery, and Mike Goode from Carlsberg-Tetley were elected to lead the panel as chairman and vice-chairman respectively.
Mr Kite said: "The purpose of the panel is to provide a one-stop forum for security managers in the industry.
"We will look at ways in which we can work together to combat a range of problems including duty fraud, pub thefts and AWP machine fraud, illegal wholesaling, door security, and general crime and disorder matters in and around our pubs and clubs. This information will then be fed into the policy forums at the BBPA in London.
"With certain types of crime rising nationally it is increasingly important that we pool our resources and expertise."
The new forum comes in the wake of a recent survey of 1,500 licensees by the Pub Channel which revealed 82 per cent were concerned about the effect crime would have on their business. The survey showed crime worried publicans more than licensing reform, red tape, smoking legislation or even war.
The next meeting of the security forum will be at Carlsberg-Tetley's national distribution centre near Northampton on April 30. Anyone interested should contact Lee Le Clercq on 01422 372999 or email beerandpubsnw@aol.com.