Ian Clarke A new team effort to crack down on late night disorder in Dereham is proving a success - and two people have already been banned from all licensed premises in the town.

Ian Clarke

A new team effort to crack down on late-night disorder in Dereham is proving a success - and two people have already been banned from all licensed premises in the town.

Police, Breckland Council and pub, hotel and club owners are working on the Pubwatch project with a policy of “banned from one - banned from all”.

If anyone is banned, photos of offenders are distributed to all member venues and police can be called if they enter and refuse to leave the premises.

A ban will last for six months and the two people already dealt with will not be able to celebrate Christmas and the new year in the town.

Insp Peter Walsh said: “Late-night violence and associated disorder has been significantly reduced in Dereham over the last six months, thanks to the efforts of Pubwatch and more focused policing in the town centre.

“Almost every pub and club premises in Dereham town centre and suburbs are members of the Pubwatch scheme. Members work with the police and Breckland Council to promote a safe, enjoyable late-night environment and to protect customers, staff and property in the town... It is very pleasing to have this support.

“It would be wrong to claim that all late-night problems have been banished but the very encouraging results so far must give us confidence that by working together we can further reduce crime, disorder and other forms of nuisance that can be associated with late-night alcohol consumption.”

At the latest Pubwatch meeting Richard Price, Norfolk police's drugs liaison officer, spoke about recognising some of the signs and symptoms of commonly misused substances.

For more information about Dereham Pubwatch, call the Dereham Safer Neighbour-hood Team on 0845 456 4567 or by e-mail at sntdereham @norfolk.pnn.police.uk