A JOINT crackdown on yobs by police and Petersfield publicans has meant less trouble in the town centre, and now more new measures have been put into action. Police said this week the pub bans enforced before Christmas were so successful that three new bans were currently being served, including a ban for life. At the end of November Petersfield Police joined forces with landlords in the town in a bid to beat antisocial behaviour. The message from the new Pubwatch initiative was: "Behave or be banned" - and five persistent offenders were barred from every pub in the town for up to six months. The bans resulted from a meeting in mid- November when members of Pubwatch discussed the behaviour of a few local people who had caused concern to landlords and their staff. The concerns ranged from abusive language, aggression and drug abuse to drunkenness. After the meeting letters were sent to five individuals banning them from all town centre pubs for periods of three to six months. They were told that if they tried to get into licensed premises in the town during the ban they would be thrown out and the police called. Police and publicans said the specific aim of the moves was to give law-abiding people in Petersfield their right to enjoy themselves during the Christmas celebrations without having their enjoyment spoiled by the antisocial behaviour of others. Last week Pubwatch members met again to discuss the success of the pre-Christmas banning letters. It was reported that, as a result of the bans, Petersfield Police estimated that public disorder offences had "markedly reduced" over the Christmas and new year period, with troublemakers excluded from the town centre licensed premises and bans acting as a deterrent to other would-be troublemakers. After debate it was decided last week to lift the three-month ban on one man and hear an appeal into another case on March 10. The three remaining individuals who received letters before the Christmas holiday are to remain banned until May. But three new bans are in the process of being served. All three of the latest offenders, it was reported, were individuals who had threatened violence or assaulted licensees, their staff or customers. And one yob has been banned from Petersfield town centre pubs for life after a serious assault on licensed premises for which he has been charged but has not yet appeared in court. Petersfield Police sergeants Paul Bromell and Rhona Anderson agreed that the firm stand taken by licensees was having a calming effect on those who used pubs in the town. Sgt Bromell said this week: "I am confident that these additional banning orders will contribute towards making Petersfield town a safer place for people to enjoy." Sgt Rhona Anderson and Clare Baumann from the Seven Stars pub at Stroud are soon to launch a rural Pubwatch scheme. "Following the success of the town centre Pubwatch we felt it would be appropriate that a rural scheme should be instigated," said Sgt Anderson. "Obviously rural issues differ from the town area, but we are confident that we can put in place a scheme that matches the needs of the rural licensees and the wider rural community. This is about making the rural areas safer and free from disruption." The scheme will mirror the town Pubwatch in that the ability to issue banning letters will also be an option, but it will be tailored to rural needs. Rural landlords are encouraged to contact Sgt Anderson to discuss membership of the group. "The message is that trouble-makers will not be tolerated in the Petersfield area," she warned. Clare Baumann has volunteered to act as co- ordinator for the group. She said this week: "Those on bans from the town pubs will have to understand that they can't just take a taxi out to a rural pub and enjoy a drunk, before causing trouble. "If they are banned from the town, they are banned from our premises too."
