Brum shows drunken yobs yellow card'

Birmingham has become the latest area of the country to issue football-style "yellow card" warnings to drunken yobs.

Fourteen yellow cards were issued over Friday and Saturday on the last bank holiday weekend, under the scheme that operates in Broad Street, nearby Hurst Street and the Arcadian.

Yellow cards are issued to troublemakers for a first offence, including using obscene language, throwing litter or bottles, or urinating in the street.

The yobs' details are logged and if they commit another offence within six months they will be issued with a red card ­ and be summoned to court, police said.

Depending on the severity of the case, and whether the person is convicted, the offender's photo will be issued to Broad Street Pub and Club Watch, which will then decide whether to ban the yob from its venues. So far no red cards have been issued.

Inspector Sean Russell said: "Just about everyone understands the principle of being shown a yellow card as a warning and a red card for a repeat offence. It will make it clear to people they've overstepped the line.

"If it is a one-off no further action will be taken. However, if they continue to behave badly we will take them to court."

Two red cards and 18 yellow cards have been issued in Taunton, Somerset, since the scheme began there last December. The two people who were "red carded" have been banned from pubs in Taunton until the end of the year.

Another 30 people could receive a yellow card by post if they are convicted of an offence in court cases that are pending.