Romsey town centre streets are safer than they were six months ago and that's official. Police say that since the summer crackdown on drunken yobs - when the central Romsey Pubwatch scheme was launched - there has been a 'significant reduction' in violent crime after pubs close.
Figures show that drink-related crime in the town has been reduced by half since the initiative was introduced. One of the biggest successes of the Pubwatch was the banning of Lloyd McKenner from all Hampshire pubs after an assault on a police officer and an off-licence was smashed up by the yob.
Magistrates have also imposed an order banning 22-year-old Stuart Rawles from entering 16 pubs in the Romsey area and a further eight troublemakers have been prevented from going into watering holes linked to the scheme for 12 months.
And another seven yobs received warning letters about their antisocial behaviour. All have been told they will be banned from pubs if they behave badly again in or near public houses.
As a direct result of the Pubwatch scheme the number of complaints from the public about drink-related antisocial behaviour has also fallen dramatically.
Six pubs were initially involved in the Pubwatch project introduced by no-nonsense Sergeant Barbara Hardcastle but a further ten watering holes have since joined the highly successful multi-agency project including some outside Romsey itself.
"Pubwatch has been good for everyone from the police to the public. Licensees and Test Valley Borough Council have played their part. We've been able to pinpoint the people responsible for causing trouble. They are issued with warning letters about their behaviour and if they continue to commit offences they end up in court.
"There is a good trust between licensees, the public and the police. If licensees and members of the public identify troublemakers we will target them. People must continue to tell the police who is causing trouble. They can always ring Crimestoppers if they want to. It's only with the public's help that the police can do something about it. I will personally attend court to support witnesses where necessary," said Sergeant Hardcastle, who introduced the Romsey Pubwatch scheme after seeing it bear fruit at Basingstoke, where she was based before moving to the town.
Romsey's police chief hailed Sgt Hardcastle's idea as a huge success.
Inspector Peter Funnell said: "She has put a tremendous amount of hard work into the scheme and its success could not have been achieved without it or indeed the full help and support of the licensees. The vast majority of drinkers are responsible people and do not cause any problems and the police would like to acknowledge that by thanking them for their responsible behaviour and hope that it continues."
The Inspector added: "I must stress that Romsey is a safe place to visit and socialise in and we are very fortunate that the drink-related problems that we have to deal with involve the very small number of individuals we have targeted. These individuals are slowly being identified through Pubwatch and once evidence has been obtained against them, we will take necessary steps to prevent them from entering the town's pubs.
"We are now receiving the full backing of the courts who are using all licensing legislation against offenders and drive home the message that drink induced antisocial behaviour will not be tolerated in Romsey."
Romsey Tavern landlady Sharon Conduct, who was one of the founders of the Pubwatch scheme, said: "I think all the publicans and the police work well together. Pubwatch is going from strength to strength. We've even got the Wheatsheaf and the Dog and Crook at Braishfield and the Luzborough House in Pubwatch. It is really successful.
"We have got a good ring around system where if one person gets any trouble they tip the rest off."
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