Pubwatch scheme stopped due to lack of pub support

Somerset Businesses Against Crime (SBAC) stopped its evening scheme in Burnham, just before New Year’s Eve.

Coordinator Andy Sharman said he was “disappointed” by the lack of support from pubs in the scheme, as they had not been paying their bills.

Sharman said SBAC was unable to support the costs of admin and exclusions from pubs and venues as it received no funding and relied on grants and members paying.

Exclusions and banning orders​

Venues that signed up to the initiative benefited from access to a radio link which enabled them to alert other pubs of known troublemakers in the area, and allow them to give troublesome customers a 12-month exclusion from their pub.

In more serious cases, SBAC would have worked with publicans and police to issue a Drink Banning Order (DBO). Members were also able to check in with CCTV operators and the police.

In Burnham there were nine exclusions in 2013. In Bridgwater there were four and in Taunton there were five.

Take control​

Chairman of the National Pubwatch Committee, Steve Baker, said: “It’s always disappointing to hear when partnership groups fail through a lack of funding.

“But it is perfectly within reason for a small town centre or licensees to take control of their own scheme and run it in a cost effective way.”