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Named and shamed
Jul 6, 2010
POLICE have called time on bad behaviour in Teesdale’s pubs by naming and shaming 18 problem drinkers.
The names will go on display in the Teesdale pubs and clubs that have barred them from their premises.
Those who flout the ban could face arrest, warned PC Harry Marsh, of Barnard Castle Police.
The crackdown is part of
Teesdale’s Pubwatch scheme, which sees licensees and police working
together to tackle troublemakers.
PC Marsh said: “Those people who think they can get away with drinking in our pubs whilst barred will be challenged and they could face further action by the police or Pubwatch.
“Recent legislation also means that anyone who persistently breaches their Pubwatch ban and are involved in incidents may be subject of an alcohol banning order, which carries a power of arrest.”
People committing damage, assault, using drugs, or behaving in an unruly manner can be banned
for up to two years from 30 Teesdale premises in the Pubwatch scheme.
And local pubs will now publicly display lists of people who are barred from Pubwatch premises in the Teesdale area.
“This practice is already used in other counties such as Cumbria, North Yorkshire and Northumbria and other areas of Durham Constabulary,” said PC Marsh.
Chris Johnson, the chairman of Teesdale Pubwatch, said: “Our main objective is to allow people to drink in safety and prevent offences from taking place.
“Posters are displayed in all Teesdale pubwatch premises.
“There are currently 30 pubs and clubs in the scheme and the tactic of listing barred persons is human rights compliant.”
The new plans to target problem drinkers comes a year after health officials described Teesdale as the ninth worst area for binge drinking in the country.
At the time, Colin Shevills, the director of health organisation Balance, said: “There seems to be a big binge-drinking problem in Teesdale and that’s quite surprising for an area like this – the only place worse in the county is Durham City.
“It’s pretty damn bad.”