Facewatch scheme designed to slash pub crime

Pubs are being urged to sign up to a new crime-reporting system designed by a licensee to dramatically cut offences in the trade.

A pilot of the Facewatch scheme - created by licensee Simon Gordon - was launched last week in London's Victoria area with 30 different venues teaming up to trial the equipment.

Pubs that sign up can go online and report crimes using official forms that are automatically given a crime number.

And where the premises have CCTV cameras, the relevant footage can electronically attached to the Crime Report.

In the Victoria scheme, pubs registered include five Punch Taverns outlets, two JD Wetherspoon pubs, and Gordon's Wine Bar.

Simon Gordon, chairman of Facewatch and owner of Gordon's Wine Bar, developed the system to catch thieves operating in his pub.

"It's a very simple system that takes only two minutes to upload the crime reports and can then save hours and hours of police time," he said.

"It's a ground-breaking new approach that has people working together with everybody responsible. It will change the face of crime reporting."

Police are able to immediately act upon the reporting of incidents and images of the offender can be sent to other Facewatch pubs and the relevant Pubwatch schemes.

The trial in Victoria is in a Business Improvement District - so the extra fees paid into this by pubs covers the cost of the scheme.

When the system is rolled out nationally, Gordon said there will be a monthly turnover-related fee structure.

For pubs generating less than £500,000 per year the charge is £15, between £500,000 and £1 million it is £25, and between £1 million and £5 million the rate is £50.

For more information visit www.facewatch.co.uk ​