Troublemakers being deterred by Pubwatch scheme’s punishments
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TROUBLE in pubs and clubs across Caithness has fallen drastically in the last two years since an initiative was introduced to reduce alcohol-related violence,
Under the Caithness Pubwatch scheme if a person is barred from one pub, he/she is then banned from all pubs in the area, and the result has been a drop in the number of incidents.
The statement from the organisation comes after two Thurso men – Peter McGrory and Mark Macleod – were jailed last Friday for threatening to petrol bomb the Comm Bar in Thurso.
It was described as one of the most threatening incidents to take place in a bar in Thurso in years.
But despite issues of violence between customers still happening, the overall picture from pub owners is that threats towards staff have declined.
Caithness Pubwatch chairman Callum Reid, who owns the Mountain Dew and Camps Bar in Wick, said that since the scheme has been introduced, pubs have generally become safer places to walk in to.
"The majority of people who are out drinking have great respect for publicans and staff alike," he said.
"Having door stewards at the door becoming a legal requirement has made a huge difference to the reduction of the number of incidents and the Pubwatch scheme has been a big deterrent for troublemakers.
"Unfortunately there are still a number of cases in which people act in an aggressive manner – nothing is going to deter them.
"But since Pubwatch has been introduced in Caithness, assaults from customers on staff have almost been nonexistent."
The Caithness Pubwatch scheme was introduced in 2010 as a merger between the Thurso and Wick branches headed by Mr Reid and Brian Cardosi.
Under the scheme, any person who is banned from a particular pub is then barred from other pubs in the Caithness area. The length of a ban can run from three months to a lifetime, depending on the seriousness of the offence.
The ban also applies to restaurants which serve alcohol and shops and supermarkets which sell beer, wine and spirits.
Since the beginning of the year nobody has been officially banned through the Pubwatch scheme, but there are two cases pending regarding vandalism and violence outside a bar in Wick.
Mr Reid said that the scheme has made troublemakers think twice about their actions as they do not want to be barred from every pub in the county.
"Most customers are aware of the Pubwatch scheme now and it is very much at the forefront of their minds if they are considering starting any trouble," he said.
"The man who thinks about starting some sort of fracas now thinks twice, he may chance his luck if he is not in his usual pub, but the thought of being banned from his local is enough to deter him.
"The biggest problem was the issue of underage drinking and people buying alcohol for minors, but there has been a huge drop in these incidents over the last two years.
"The scheme also has full support from Northern Constabulary, which pubs have always had a good relationship with, but thanks to the scheme we are now working closer than ever before."
‘Your name’s down, you’re not coming in’
The duration of bans under the Caithness Pubwatch scheme...
Verbal and threatening behaviour towards patrons or staff: three months.
Vandalism to patron’s or licensee’s property: six months.
Petty assault towards patrons: six months.
Purchasing alcohol for underage persons: six months.
Persons under 18 buying or consuming alcohol within a licensed premises: banned until 18th birthday or, if youth reoffends, six months from date of 18th birthday.
Persons under 18 using fake ID to gain entry into licensed premises: banned until 18th birthday or, if youth reoffends, six months from date of 18th birthday.
Dishonesties in respect of property owned by patrons or licensees: 12 months.
Assault on staff: life.
Drugs, including both personal use and dealing towards other patrons: life.
Serious assaults involving use of weapons or serious injury to other patrons or staff: life.
