Rowdy drinkers could be banned from pubs

ROWDY drinkers could be banned from two thirds of the pubs in Woodbridge if they misbehave, police warned today.

A Nightsafe scheme is to be introduced which will see pubs, off-licenses and police join together to stamp out alcohol-related violence and anti-social behaviour.

Pc Mick Sears, community police officer for Woodbridge, said: "I now have 12 pubs and off-licences signed up to the Nightsafe partnership.

"They will all be adopting a strict proof-of-age policy. If people do not have photo ID they will not be served.

"Pubs will also have the power to ban people who cause a nuisance and, if they are banned from one pub, they will be banned from all of those in the scheme."

The Nightsafe initiative has already proved highly successful in Felixstowe, where it was launched in 2002, and police are confident it will have the same impact in Woodbridge.

It will work in addition to a Pub Link radio scheme, launched in May, in which six town centre pubs are involved. The radios allow pubs to communicate with each other and the police about any trouble.

Pc Sears said: "The radio link-up has already proved successful and I'm very pleased that we've now got two thirds of all the licensed outlets in Woodbridge covered by Nightsafe.

"All of the licensees have been very enthusiastic about it and are already displaying their Nightsafe notice boards with information about the scheme."

The premises which have signed up to the Nightsafe scheme are: The Red Lion, The Cross, The Anchor, The King's Head, The Angel, Ye Olde Bell and Steelyard, The Cherry Tree, The Seal, The Mariners, The Crown Hotel, The Bull and the Wine Rack shop in The Thoroughfare.

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