Laura Bagshaw REVELLERS who cause trouble in Gorleston pubs face a lifetime ban from all pubs in the town under a new scheme which aims to prevent alcohol-fuelled violence.

Laura Bagshaw

REVELLERS who cause trouble in Gorleston pubs face a lifetime ban from all pubs in the town under a new scheme which aims to prevent alcohol-fuelled violence.

Several pubs have signed up to the police led Pub Watch scheme which will see licensed premises adopt a zero-tolerance approach towards customers who misbehave.

Details of known trouble-makers will be shared between pubs which could lead to them being banned for life or a set period of time.

Insp Richard Graveling, head of the local safer neighbourhood team, set up the scheme and said the message he was sending out was clear and simple - banned from one - banned from all.

He said: “We understand that alcohol related crime does have an impact and although Gorleston is already a safe place to be, we want to further improve the environment and increase safety by taking positive steps against people who misuse alcohol and behave in an anti-social manner.”

While licensees in Gorleston say they have few problems with alcohol-fuelled violence Insp Gravelling said many of the incidents police deal with are alcohol related.

“We will target those people who abuse alcohol and restrict their opportunity to buy it,” he said.

The vast majority of licensed premises have signed up to scheme, 28 in total.

Dubbed as the pubs version of Neighbourhood Watch, the scheme will see a committee, chaired by Cliff Hotel manager Vaughan Cutter, meet on a regular basis and discuss issues relating to violence.

Anyone identified as a trouble-maker faces either a lifetime or limited ban which could be anything from six weeks to six months.

Mr Cutter said while the Cliff Hotel rarely had problems related to alcohol-fuelled violence he was happy to support the scheme.

“By nature we are in the hospitality trade so we should be hospitable,” he said.

Debbie Beavers runs the Wheelwrights Arms on Beccles Road and the Oddfellows Arms on Cliff Hill. She said: “We have got a good atmosphere in the pubs, its friendly and that's the way we want to keep it. We don't want undesirable people inside our pubs and this scheme will help to keep it a safe place for out customers.”

Liane Grey, landlady of High Street pub The Feathers, said the pub already had a zero-tolerance approach towards trouble-makers adding she was pleased to support the scheme.

“This will help us keep the pub clear of people we don't want in there,” she said.

Craig Applegate, owner of The Feathers and the Tramways, welcomed the scheme. “It will be good to see the pubs working in partnership with one another,” he said.