Pubwatch relaunch

Pubs and clubs in Dereham are stepping up a scheme that aims to banish bad behaviour from their premises.

Members of the town's Pubwatch scheme met to relaunch the scheme, which enables licensed premises to keep in close contact with police and warn each other about louts. If necessary, persistent culprits can be barred from every bar and club in the town.

Chairman Geoff Fossitt, landlord of the Royal Standard, warned: “The main purpose of the Pubwatch scheme is to make our prem-ises a better environment for people to enjoy and to single out persistent trouble-makers who continually misbehave. These people will be barred from all premises in the Pubwatch scheme.”

In total, 11 venues have joined, including the Royal Standard, The Lounge, Gemini, Millwright Arms at Toftwood, the Cock Inn, Strikes, Red Lion, Splitz, King's Head, Coachmakers and the Plough.

The new emphasis comes weeks after Barry Jackson, 28, of Copenhagen Way, was sentenced to three years in jail for glassing Richard Blackmore in the face in Splitz nightclub last year. Mr Blackmore was left blind in one eye.

And last week, Thomas Curtis, 24, of Fakenham, was given a 10-month suspended prison sentence and told to pay £750 to another man for throwing a glass at him in the Cock Inn at Dereham last December.

Insp Peter Walsh of Norfolk police said: “Dereham is a safe and pleasant community, but like many other places there are some problems of disorder and very often alcohol is involved.

“The meeting was of responsible and caring members of the community who are taking positive action to protect their customers, staff and business, and we are grateful for their support.”

Mr Fossitt said: “Radios have been issued to all members so that they and the police can be warned in advance of the movements of trouble-makers. It is not all about barring people but it can also be used to cement a better relationship between licensees, the police and licensing.”