Hosts linked to yobs may lose licence

Licensees in Tamworth, Staffordshire, have been warned they could lose their licences if troublemakers can be linked to their pubs. Police are concerned about alcohol-related crime in the town and say it is clear that somepubs continue to serve customers when they have had too much to drink. They say that it is these people who often go on to cause late-night violence and street disorder. Police plan to ask anyone who they arrest where they have been drinking and if a pub is continually named then officers could take action. In extreme cases, licences could be opposed when they came up for renewal. Insp Chris Malpass said: "We plan to monitor licensees more closely than before and if it appears the same pubs are being named by those we arrest then we will then talk to the licensees. "There is no doubt that a good proportion of the people we arrest for town-centre violence are drunk and should not have been allowed to carry on drinking." The scheme forms part of Operation Vampire which aimsto cut down on violence in the town. The plans have drawn a mixed reception from the town's licensees although all welcomed the crackdown on town-centreviolence. Nick Casey, of the Albert Hotel said: "Anything that helps to stop the violence is a good thing because there is a certain element in the town that regularly causes trouble.