Pubwatch: don't hamper schemes

Don't hamper the effectiveness of local pubwatches by incorporating them into "business partnerships" — that's the message from National Pubwatch chairman Steve Baker.

He flagged up "very worrying reports" that the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) wants to have a single accreditation scheme for local business partnerships.

This could see independent, licensee-led pubwatches forced to gain accreditation and possibly face new costs.

Baker told the National Pubwatch Conference in Liverpool today: "It's our view that whilst some pubwatch schemes exist quite happily either alongside or within business partnerships, a bureaucratic and costly centralised system will impact on the effectiveness of local licensees to manage their own problems in the way that they see fit.

"In fact it's this lack of official sanction and interference that has protected smaller schemes when faced with the threat or legal action."

Judicial review​

Baker was referring to the case of Haverhill Pubwatch in 2010, where a local businessman forced a judicial review of his pubwatch ban, claiming police and local authority involvement meant the scheme had a public function and should be subject to extra scrutiny.

Baker called for authorities to "concentrate on the problem venues and outlets and problem individuals and let's work with the majority of licensees who are committed to running safe and secure venues".

"That's the only way we are going to solve this problem - working together. And what better way to do that than through a local pubwatch partnership."

Three individuals were given outstanding contribution awards by National Pubwatch at the Conference: Neil Bartholomey, chairman of Northampton Pubwatch; Geoff Keeble, licensing consultant and an instrumental figure behind pubwatches in Reading and Tilehurst in Berkshire; and Julia Glancy, chair of East Liverpool Pubwatch.