Hopes to expand Teesdale's pubwatch scheme

PUBS and licensed premises are looking to recruit more members to a group aimed at making people feel safe and “comfortable” when they go out for a drink in Teesdale.

With 14 active members, Teesdale Pubwatch already has extensive influence by monitoring incidents and banning problem people, but it still does not reach all villages in the dale.

At a meeting at the Golden Lion, in Barnard Castle, last Thursday, the group decided to embark on a recruitment drive to get more pubs, social clubs, sports club and workingmen’s clubs on board.

Pubwatch chairman Morris Race said: “That is the aim of pubwatch – we are stronger together. We want people to know Teesdale is a nice place to come and have a drink and feel comfortable. We are passionate about licensed premises.”

Figures released by pubwatch show that nine of its members have been inactive during the past year and the aim is to visit these, as well as other establishments that are not signed up, in the coming weeks.

Currently the group has about 13 people on its banned list, and while some have indefinite bans, seven are barred for two years and three people for one year.

Mr Race explained that incidents at pubs are discussed at each meeting without the names of the people involved being mentioned.

He added: “All licensees vote on that. We can bar people for six months, one year or two years.”

Pubwatch members pin a list of the names of people barred to the entrance of their premises for everyone to see.

The idea was developed by PC Harry Marsh, of Barnard Castle Police, who saw a similar scheme in operation when visiting a pub in Yorkshire.

He said he had taken advice from the force’s solicitor on whether the lists could be put up.

He added: “What I found is we are allowed to display the names on the basis of public protection. So we can do it and we are entitled to do it. It is proportionate, it is legal and it is fair.” No incidents were reported during the meeting and none of those who are on the banned list were due for review.

Following a description of a problem that one of the members experienced on “Black Eye Friday”, PC Marsh agreed to prepare a ring-around list so Pubwatch members could call each other if problem drinkers were moving around in a particular area.