Better Bankside is working with members of the licensed trade in Bankside, the Police and the Council to set up a Pub Watch covering the Better Bankside Business Improvement District. Pub Watch schemes have been in existence nationally for over 20 years. Their aim is to bring together the licensees within a particular area to act as an organisation to combat crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour within the members’ premises as well as the wider geographical area.

 

There have been 2 meetings of the proposed Pub Watch for the Better Bankside BID since the beginning of May. The meeting on 26^th June was attended by 13 people representing the licensed trade in Bankside as well as the Police, the Council and Better Bankside. Figures presented to the meeting by the Police show that between January and mid May 2007 there were 221 incidents of theft reported in 11 of the pubs in Bankside, an increase of 86 on the same period the year before.

 

The licensees attending the meeting agreed to form a Pub Watch and to put in place ways by which the members can: 

• set up rapid alert systems to send advance warning of actual or impending trouble to members “further down the line”
• make better use of CCTV images to assist in the identification and prosecution of trouble makers and thieves and pass on images of individuals who have been banned to other members and
  
• get more closely involved with the Police and the Council. 

The meeting voted to use the Better Bankside Rangers to co-ordinate the meetings and to set up a contact list for notification of meetings and circulation of news.  

 

• Deters trouble makers
• Gets a quicker response from the Police
• Reduces the opportunities for theft of mobiles, handbags etc
• Reduces the number of assaults on people and staff
• Reduces damage to buildings
• Increases trade and
  
• Improves public image.