'Don't sign police forms': Marston's

Marston's Pub Company (MPC) has expressed concern at a police scheme that asks licensees to sign a document detailing how they will act to cut disorder.

Police are asking licensees in Bolton, Greater Manchester, to complete and sign a "statement of intent".

Hosts write down what actions they will take under six subject headings, corresponding to the four licensing objectives, and describe other matters, such as how they will work with Bolton Town Centre Partnership.

MPC's legal firm Flint Bishop has written to the pubco's three licensees in Bolton advising them to be wary about signing the statement, and to call them for free legal advice.

MPC boss Stephen Oliver said: "We feel licensees could be coerced into signing something that could add conditions to their licence.

"What we are saying is: 'Don't let the police put the frighteners on you'.

"We are concerned that this [scheme] could set a precedent where police ask licensees to do things that they don't have a right to request.

"The whole point of the licensing-reform process is that if police have a genuine concern, there's a proper legal process to go through."

Bolton's evening economy manager, Laura Miseo, said three licensees of around 30 had not signed up.

"A lot of licensees don't even know what's on the licence so this has made them go back and look at it," she said.

"I can't see why they would have concerns because it's just about them telling us what they can do."

Emma Stanfied, operations manager of the privately-owned J2 bar in Bolton's Nelson Square, said: "A lot of what's on the statement is what I would class as what we should be doing anyway, so I don't have a problem with it."