The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
A scheme which aims to keep town centre venues safe is due to launch in time for the Christmas celebrations.
More than a dozen pubs, clubs and hotels have already signed up for the Spalding and District Pubwatch scheme, with more yet to confirm their involvement.
The idea is that the night-time economy businesses will share information about potential troublemakers.
Anyone involved in anti-social behaviour could be sent a warning letter, while serious offenders could find themselves banned from all participating venues.
The man behind the scheme, former town police sergeant Stuart Brotherton, hopes it will make a difference during the busy Christmas period, when more people venture into town to celebrate.
He said: “The aim isn’t to alienate customers from frequenting town centre venues.
“We do not want to take a radical approach where those involved in argy-bargy are banned, but we will not tolerate assaults on staff, mindless damage to property or assault by customers on other customers.
“This scheme will involve the pubs working in partnership to pass on information to make the night time economy better and safer.”
Many of the venues will have Pubwatch radios, allowing them to “talk” to each other throughout the evening, and they will also be linked to the CCTV control room in Boston.
The scheme, supported by South Holland District Council and Spalding Police, will be officially launched at the White Horse at 5pm on Tuesday, December 1.
Mr Brotherton added: “The response so has been absolutely great, with 13 businesses already committed and more still thinking about it. I feel that it will be a very positive thing for Spalding.”
