NEW measures to tackle troublemakers are about to be brought in by Petersfield pub landlords.

Licensed premises in the town centre which are part of the Pub Watch Scheme are to be issued with hand-held radios on Wednesday.

Pub Watch has been in operation in the town for some time, with landlords using a Òring roundÓ system to warn each other of potential rowdies.

But police spokesman Sgt Claire Winter said: ÒNow this scheme will be even more effective as publicans will be able to talk to each other instantly.Ó

Sgt Winter, who is the police liaison officer for the scheme, added: ÒThese radios will be a really effective tool in the town centre. As soon as someone shows the potential for causing problems in the town, their descriptions and names, if they are known to the publicans, can be brought to the attention of other premises.Ó

She said actions could then be taken to stop these people moving on and continuing to be a nuisance.

ÒThis will have the benefit of making Petersfield an even safer and more pleasant place to go out for the evening without fear of being disturbed by anti-social behaviour,Ó she said.

Pub landlords have agreed that troublemakers who are banned from one pub will be banned from them all.

Sgt Winter said police patrols would also carry one of the radios and would monitor transmissions when they were in the town, enabling them to deal with offences and offenders promptly and effectively.