Pubwatch helped save Coventry's night life

Pubwatch is key to reducing crime and rejuvenating towns and cities.

That is the message from Trevor Pepper, operations manager for community safety at CV One, the not-for-profit group that manages Coventry city centre.

Speaking at the National Pubwatch conference, Pepper said joint action between the trade, police and other groups helped transform Coventry from Britain's most violent city in the late 1980s to the fourth safest, with footfall increasing.

The night-time economy "almost died" in the 1980s but increased investment and other measures, such as the establishment of Pubwatch in 2000, led to a renaissance.

Joint action was supported by "evening ambassadors" under the CV One scheme, set up in 2002.

A Business Improvement District, where traders pay to improve aspects of the local surrounding, has also helped, Pepper said.

Measures implemented as a result of the partnership have included taxi marshals at Christmas, extra CCTV, and more police patrols.

Earlier, Ian Seville, licensing officer in Halton, Cheshire, called for more pubwatch groups to adopt the Pubwatch Online system.

This lets licensees and police share information about troublemakers who have been barred, via a secure website.

For more information see www.pubwatchonline.co.uk​ or call 01928 238032.