National Pubwatch celebrates 25 years
The voluntary organisation, which supports more than 800 pubwatches across the UK, has promoted safe, secure, and social drinking environments over the past quarter century and has continued to promote the creation of new pubwatches across the country.
National Pubwatch chair Steve Baker OBE said: “We would like to acknowledge everyone who has helped us along the way.
“We are a small, voluntary organisation that relies on donations to fund our work and would like to thank our supporters.
Dedicated to helping
“The members of the National Pubwatch committee and our regional representatives are people that are dedicated to helping promote responsible social drinking environments.
“We are committed to help licensees and the trade to continue to offer safe venues for the next 25 years and beyond.”
Originally founded in 1997 by Red Lion licensee and magistrate Raoul De Vaux, former police chief Malcom Eidmans and publican Bill Stone, with the belief pubwatches should be run by licensee members for their own benefit, the organisation has achieved a raft of developments for the sector.
Following the launch of its first consultation in 2003, in 2009 the NPW Court Not Caution campaign led to official recognition from the Sentencing Council that an assault on bar staff was an aggravating feature as well as having created the first national database of pubwatches in the UK and opened links with industry bodies and the Home Office to ensure regular consultation on new legislation.
Invaluable service
Also in 2009, the NPW played a large part in gaining ruling which concluded individual licensees have an unrestricted right to exclude anyone from their premises as well as allowing licensees to form groups or associations to pool information and make the exclusion of potential troublemakers more organised and systematic.
British Beer & Pub Association chief executive Emma McClarkin OBE said: “For 25 years National Pubwatch has provided an invaluable service through helping to enable safe and comfortable drinking spaces for everyone across the country.
“Working alongside businesses, local agencies and the public pubwatch helps our industry thrive through the promotion and prioritisation of inclusion and community and for that, we thank them.”
