SIX people have been banned from all of Felixstowe's seafront nightclubs and pubs, The Evening Star can reveal today.The drinkers are serving exclusions under the new Nightsafe scheme, which aims to crackdown on drugs, drunkenness and disorder.

By Richard Cornwell

SIX people have been banned from all of Felixstowe's seafront nightclubs and pubs, The Evening Star can reveal today.

The drinkers are serving exclusions under the new Nightsafe scheme, which aims to crackdown on drugs, drunkenness and disorder.

A committee of landlords, police, councillors and residents' representatives decided on the bans – which range from three to six months – as extra punishment for those involved in drink-connected incidents in the seafront area.

Names and details of people arrested in connection with incidents inside or outside licensed premises, including vandalism, fighting or rowdiness in the town, are given to the group to discuss in private.

Felixstowe police commander Insp Andy Bushell said: "So far the committee has met three times and a total of six people have been banned from all premises.

"One or two of them have tried to get in at premises since the ban was imposed and they have been turned away and have not got in, so I think they have now got the message.

"There are a couple more in the pipeline to be discussed and the committee will meet again soon to talk about those and decide what action to take."

Insp Bushell said the committee was trying to take a reasonable view when determining how long a ban should be, and the circumstances of each case was taken into consideration.

It had the option to send a warning letter for a first incident, or look at bans for three to six months or longer, perhaps extending a ban for a second or third offence, and also had the ultimate sanction of a lifetime ban for extreme cases.

The people concerned are then sent a letter and their details circulated to all premises.

"Everyone involved in the licensed trade on the seafront is behind this and I am very pleased with the enthusiasm so far for Nightsafe and the way the community and licensees have embraced it," he added.

Nightsafe was launched last month to rid the town of violence and push out the pushers and try to attract people to enjoy its nightlife.

Special radios have been issued to link all licensed premises so details of trouble, drunks or drug pushers can be passed swiftly to all landlords and doormen.

Photographs of known convicts, and drug pushers, can also be given to management of the premises to help them spot the troublemakers in advance.

Insp Bushell said everyone had a part to play in wanting to get rid of disorder, drunkenness and drugs to make the town a safe place for residents to live and enjoy, and to promote it as a safe place for visitors to have a good time.

He said the radios were being well-used by the landlords to pass on information, but also to relay information about other incidents in the seafront area.

n Have you been banned from Felixstowe's pubs and clubs? Let us know what you think of the punishment. Contact Felixstowe Newsdesk on 01394 284109 or richard.cornwell@eveningstar.co.uk