VIOLENT drunken behaviour will not be tolerated in pubs in Ellesmere Port.
That’s the clear message being sent out by the growing number of publicans taking part in the town’s Pubwatch scheme.
More than 20 premises across the area have now signed up to the initiative that has so far resulted in 39 people being banned from all the pubs taking part.
Ellesmere Port Pubwatch secretary Jamie Murphy, owner of The Bull, Great Sutton, said: “We want people to know that we are serious about this.
“No-one wants to go on a night out and see trouble.
“Even if you’re not involved and just sitting in a pub where a fight breaks out, it’s threatening.
“We want people to know that they can come out, have a bit of banter, a bit of a laugh and not have to deal with violent troublemakers ruining their night.”
Once an individual is identified by a publican involved in the scheme, they are contacted by the police and sent a letter informing them of the ban and giving them the option to appeal the decision.
Mr Murphy said: “We’ve never had an appeal.
“There are a lot of people out there that have a few drinks and start beating innocent people up.
“We want to keep the pubs a safe place where people can enjoy themselves and the scheme gives us the power to do this.”
Each Pubwatch member has access to a website with photographs of each banned individual and take part in monthly meetings to share information about people ignoring bans.
The bans’ duration can be anything from three months to indefinite, lifelong exclusions.
“We can also apply to the courts for an exclusion order and it can become a criminal matter if this is breached.”
