The scheme was recognised for its “impressive responsible drinking initiatives” and “clear commitment to working with partners throughout the local community” at the Diageo National Pubwatch Awards, which took place at the Annual All-Party Parliamentary Beer Awards Dinner in London.
Blackpool received particular praise for providing advanced training to all scheme members in conflict management, drug awareness and first aid. The Pubwatch has also created a ‘late-night crime reduction fund’, which will aim to finance initiatives such as taxi-marshals.
Dalston Pubwatch and Bawtry Licence Watch picked up highly commended awards. According to the judges, both demonstrated an outstanding contribution to promoting social responsibility in their local areas.
Ambassadors
Dalston Pubwatch operators contribute to a voluntary fund to pay for council wardens to patrol the streets in the north-east London district on the busiest nights of the week. The wardens target the streets with the highest levels of complaints from residents and can issue fines for those caught committing anti-social behaviour.
In Bawtry, a small market town in South Yorkshire, the Licence Watch team fund two Security Industry Authority-licensed ‘nightlife ambassadors’, who patrol the town centre with radios and cameras. The ambassadors offer support to those visiting the area at night and report any issues directly to the police.
National Pubwatch said it received a significant increase in the number of applicants for this year’s awards. National Pubwatch chairman Steve Baker said: “The awards acknowledge the fantastic work undertaken by local Pubwatch Schemes across the UK and their efforts to improve safety for all.
“We offer our congratulations to this year’s winners and hope the great example that they have set, inspires others to look at what they can do within their own communities.”
Mark Baird, head of industry affairs and alcohol policy at award sponsor Diageo GB, added: “Partnership schemes like Pubwatch make a real difference to local communities, and it is fantastic to see so many more places getting involved in the programme through this year’s awards.
“We want to congratulate Blackpool, Dalston and Bawtry for setting such a high standard and demonstrating so brilliantly what can be achieved.”