PROMOTING safe and enjoyable pubs is the aim of Thurrock’s Pubwatch officially launched borough-wide on Thursday (December 6).
Almost 50 pubs and members clubs are signed up to the scheme which benefits both staff and customers by improving the atmosphere and environment of licensed premises.
One key initiative is B.O.B.B. (Behave or Be Banned) where anyone misbehaving is not only excluded from one premises but banned from all of those in the scheme.
Thurrock Pubwatch Chair Chris Ryley, licensee of The White Hart, Grays, and The Ship, Little Thurrock, said: “Since the launch of the Grays scheme two years ago Pubwatch has gone from strength to strength. It offers support to all members as we can share experiences and information. By working together we can enforce the BOBB bans and improve the atmosphere in all the member premises.”
South Ockendon and Grays Police Acting Inspector Rob Thompson said: “Behave or Be Banned has seen 21 individuals banned since it was first introduced in 2010. From a policing perspective the scheme has been very beneficial to the local community with a fall of 12.9% in Anti-Social-Behaviour levels across Thurrock compared to last year. Although obviously not solely responsible, we have also seen a reduction in crime in comparison of last year’s figures of which Thurrock Pubwatch can certainly take some credit.”
Thurrock’s Chair of Licensing Cllr Mike Stone said: “We are pleased that the licence holders are working closely together with the support of Thurrock’s Licensing Team and Essex Police to ensure that pubs and members clubs can be places that can be enjoyed by all.
“Pubwatch seen as good practice by the Police and Home Office and I would encourage any premises not already signed up to join, and for any person that cannot behave to stay away from any member premises.”
