PUBWATCH chairman Michael Collins was angered after police took two months to say thanks for the England match.Publicans worked hand-in-hand with police to ensure August's big match against Croatia at Portman Road passed off peacefully.

PUBWATCH chairman Michael Collins was angered after police took two months to say thanks for the England match.

Publicans worked hand-in-hand with police to ensure August's big match against Croatia at Portman Road passed off peacefully.

And Mr Collins thinks the thank you note could have been sent a bit closer to the date.

He said: "To me, things are not good between police and publicans if that happens – if pubs have played their part we would appreciate a thank you within a week of the occasion."

The landlord of PJ MGinty's in Northgate Street, Ipswich, has been voted in as Pubwatch chairman for another term.

And he used the occasion to call for pubs and police to pull together over the coming year.

Mr Collins said he was impressed with Inspector Tristan Pepper's first speech at Tuesday night's Pubwatch annual general meeting.

He said: "He spoke very well on behalf of the police force, and was quite honest in saying they were under-manned.

"As chairman, I can see he will be quite good to work with and I do hope the hierarchy will see fit to leave him here long enough to have an effect."

Mr Collins recommended all licensees to apply for 24-hour licences in future, to give them the option of staying open, but said he didn't really think most Ipswich pubs would need to open all day.

He also urged magistrates to remind new landlords granted licences to mention Pubwatch.

He said: "I hope people spread the word about Pubwatch. We always see the same 35-40 faces at our meetings, and it would be great to see some new faces and keep people informed of all the licensing changes going on at the moment, and new laws planned for January 2005."

Al licensees are invited to the next meeting of Pubwatch, at Giles Tavern at 9.30am on December 1, when the main topic will be Christmas and New Year opening hours.