NHS and pubs join forces to tackle violence

Bangor and District Pubwatch has two new members - the North West Wales NHS Trust and Wales Ambulance Service Trust have joined as associate members.

The link-up will see information on people who are abusive or violent shared, with anyone who attacks or insults healthcare workers facing a ban from pubs and clubs in the area.

One offender has been given a two year ban from all licensed premises in the towns of Bangor and Bethesda, after threatening and abusing NHS staff whilst drunk.

The scheme will include every designated Pubwatch area in the Gwynedd and Anglesey region, to ensure that any ban is imposed in the area from which the alcohol was bought.

Martin Jones, chief executive at the North West Wales NHS Trust, said: "This new relationship with the Pubwatch scheme will add to other sanctions and help drive home the message that unacceptable conduct will not be tolerated and that there will be wider consequences for individuals engaged in such behaviour."

Pubwatch Posters have been put up in hospitals, clinics and ambulances.

Sergeant Bill Coppack of North Wales Police said: "The addition of the healthcare services to the scheme means that those who abuse medical staff will not be allowed back into the area again to drink and repeat that behaviour.

"We don't tolerate people who are abusive or violent in the area's pubs and I'm sure this will make people think twice before being abusive or violent towards healthcare staff."