Yates to pay for police in responsibility drive
New plans aim to show commitment to safety
By Ewan Turney
High-street bar operator Yates Group has offered to pay for policing in Swinton in Greater Manchester, and Nottingham as part of new plans designed to demonstrate that the company is wholly committed to providing a safe environment for its customers.
Yates's in Swinton has been at the centre of local anger since father-of-two Frank Buckley, 47, died following a fight with doorstaff. As a result, doorman Daniel Anderson and his boss Brian Horrocks were jailed for five and three and a half years respectively.
Despite a £100,000 refurbishment, Yates was recently refused a licence by Salford magistrates after police said there had been more than 60 violent incidents at the pub over a two-year period. An appeal has been lodged and trading continues on a temporary licence.
Chief executive Mark Jones said: "There are a number of violent incidents in Swinton town centre, and because of whathappened, we have received a lot of flak locally and all violent incidents there now seem to be attributed to Yates rather than the town centre."
The policing at Swinton is expected to cost Yates £5,000 to £10,000 per year.
Yates has also been approached by Nottingham police to participate in a 12-week trial that is due to begin shortly. Yates will pay for two extra police officers on two nights of the week which are yet to be decided. Jones estimated the cost would be £12,000 per year with the money coming from its community fund set up in the company's BarSafe social responsibility charter.
On the issue of paid-for policing, Jones said he was only in favour of it on a voluntary basis. "We are keen to show police and the public that there are responsible companies out there who are innovative. All responsible retailers who have a national presence need to look at how these schemes work locally."
The extra police in Nottingham and Swinton will benefit allpubs in the surrounding areas although they are not contributing to the cost. "We want to take a lead on it and if others want to come in on the back of it and contribute then that is fine," said Jones. "But we need to get on and do it. If we wait for everyone to decide whether they want in or out, we could be waiting a year."
Bob Senior, chief executive of Ultimate Leisure, which funds two officers in Newcastle's Bigg Market area, said: "Where appropriate and economically viable the schemes are good news. We have borne the cross for two years and forked out nearly £100,000 in Newcastle so I welcome others getting involved."
But British Beer & Pub Association director of communications Mark Hastings said there was "no case at all" for operators to have to pay for extra policing.
"The industry already pays £22bn in taxation at a time when the total police budget is £10bn. We already pay double the entire police budget," he stressed.
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