THE GUV'NOR - Peter Eveleigh on Pubwatch
Peter Eveleigh, Riverside Inn, Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire
How many times have we attended pubwatch meetings to hear of an incident warranting a ban throughout the Watch, yet haven't a clue who is being talked about, never mind what
he/she looks like? Also, we sometimes read of folk being made the subject
of an exclusion order, and the same applies - only this time we are committing an offence if we serve the "excluded individual".
Having corresponded, over the past year, with magistrates and senior police officers on the issue of whether photos can be released, the simplified response given is (suck in through teeth) "No!", as they have to consider the needs of the European Court of Human Rights. Meanwhile, e-fit images and photos are released to the national press when the
police consider it justified - ie in support of terrorist or capital offence enquiries.
With the core objectives of the Licensing Act 2003 being so focused on law and order, and the subsequent encouragement for licensees to demonstrate their commitment to these objectives by joining or setting up Pubwatch schemes, a number of new initiatives were implemented, including the Acceptable Behaviour Contract and much closer liaison between premises (including off-licences, late-food venues, taxi ranks, etc) and the police. Yet the single most important piece of information - photographic - remains substantially denied to pubwatches.
It is very difficult for premises to understand why this information is actually available through some pubwatch schemes, yet denied to others. The bottom line seems to be enshrined in the different policy documentation raised by each police force. So here is a challenge for the association of Chief Police Officers - formulate a national policy document on the relationship with pubwatch schemes to guide all forces. It must obviously include the timely release of photographic data, so that, in particular, new bar and door staff or premises supervisors can recognise potential trouble-makers early enough in order to be able to act.
