Police 'pressure' Derby pubs
A group of Derby licensees claim they're being pressurised by police to attend £300-a-day training courses to avoid possible licence reviews.
The town-centre hosts say the threat of legal action is being used to force them to pay for the licensing workshops.
A specialist training company, Bar Futures, is running the courses, which are aimed at helping licensees "identify and prevent drunkenness and avoid future incidents of crime and disorder."
Premises identified as failing to support the main objectives of the Licensing Act have received letters from police.
"Rather than look towards any legal action at this time we would first like to give you the opportunity to take part in this excellent initiative and work with Bar Futures to reduce crime and disorder with your customers," says the letter.
Derby Pubwatch secretary Connor Fittall told the Morning Advertiser that some members "feel they are being obliged to attend these courses with the clear threat that a licensing review could follow if they do not take part".
MA legal editor Peter Coulson said: "Licensees are clearly being made an offer that many may feel they cannot refuse."
A Derby police spokesman denied the scheme was being used as a stick to beat licensees and stressed that if any pub was identified for review, police would first speak to the licensee to find ways of resolving the problems.
"Bar Futures has been contracted by Derby Community Safety Partnership to monitor and report on incidents (none police-generated) near licensed premises.
"In turn, they are running training workshops to help licensees identify and prevent drunkenness to help avoid future incidents of crime and disorder."
