PUBS in Ipswich are today being urged to operate a closed door policy to ensure a safer Christmas and New Year.The borough council, has asked licensees prevent revellers coming in after 11pm today and on New Year's Eve.
PUBS in Ipswich are today being urged to operate a closed door policy to ensure a safer Christmas and New Year.
The borough council, has asked licensees prevent revellers coming in after 11pm today and on New Year's Eve.
The town's senior licensing officer Simon Kellett has also recommended publicans close their premises between 5pm and 7pm on both days and to ensure glasses and bottles are not taken outside.
Mr Kellett said that closing pubs for two hours in the early evening enables the town to clear, break up drinking sessions and staff to get a well-earned break.
He said: "It is important, however, for all premises to close at the same time to have full effect. "
The council is a member of the town's PubWatch and ClubWatch schemes, and communities portfolio-holder Paul West said: "We want everyone to enjoy a happy and safe Christmas and New year holiday and that includes pub staff.
“We have written to the licensees of all town pubs and clubs with some common-sense advice. We are working closely with the police and fully endorse their 'no tolerance' approach to drink-related behaviour."
As reported in yesterday's Evening Star, more than 220 people have been arrested in a month in Ipswich, Hadleigh and Sudbury as part of the police's zero tolerance crackdown on alcohol-related crime. Countywide the total comes to more than 540.
The campaign has been applauded and supported by landlords and club managers throughout Suffolk.
Chairman of Pubwatch in Ipswich, Shaun De Silva of the Brewers Arms in Orford Street said: “Zero Tolerance was an excellent campaign. Led by the police we have fully supported its aims. As a professional body we do not agree with the levels of alcohol abuse we have seen in the last year and we wholeheartedly have been behind the police view.
“The public have been quite aware of this serious campaign. We do not serve people who have had too much to drink.”
N Do you support the zero tolerance crackdown? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or send us an e-mail to eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk
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