Police praise Workington Pubwatch

Workington Pubwatch has been praised for its "exceptional" work in reducing cases of alcohol-related disorder and for making police more aware of the scale of drugs use in the town.

The pubwatch, set-up just over two years ago, has had a dramatic influence on cutting late-night trouble.

"The Pubwatch has done some excellent work because all the licensees are committed to it and its goals," said Inspector Joe Murray.

However, as an unexpected consequence of its success, police have noticed an increase in the number of people being caught in possession of drugs.

Murray said: "What Pubwatch has served to do is highlight the problem areas. We monitor those areas closely and as a result have found a higher level of drugs possession than we were previously aware of."

However, Murray was quick to make clear that there was absolutely no link between the success of Pubwatch exclusion orders and the rise in incidents of drugs possession.

"I don't think the vacuum left by a decrease in alcohol-fuelled disorder is being replaced by drugs," he said. "It is just that we are more aware thanks to Pubwatch."