Licensee enraged by attack
A licensee has written a barrage of letters to people in authority complaining that justice has not been meted out to thugs who attack hosts and pub staff.
Jason Baker wrote to local police and council chiefs — plus his local mayor, MP,
MEP and National Pubwatch president Nigel Evans — after his wife and a door supervisor were assaulted outside his pub and the attacker received a caution.
The licensee of the Choughs in Chard, Somerset, wrote: "There's so much pressure and emphasis put on staff in licensed premises to uphold licensing objectives, but little back-up given when, while doing this, we are assaulted.
"We do not know if this trend is driven by local practices or centrally sanctioned; whether it is a result of a performance culture or a need to reduce the burden on the court system. What is clear, however, is that people working in the licensing trade feel that the criminal justice system is not supporting them in their efforts to run their businesses in a socially-responsible fashion."
A spokesman for Avon and Somerset Police declined to comment prior to an investigation.
• Sign the petition to the Prime Minister as part of the Court Not Caution campaign, saying people who attack pub staff must face court — here.
