Major police force backs Court not Caution

One of the biggest police forces in the country is throwing its support behind a campaign to ensure attacks on pub staff are taken more seriously.

Thames Valley Police is launching an internal communications drive to ensure staff are aware of the important role well-run venues serve, after discussions with National Pubwatch chairman Steve Baker.

Baker is behind the Court Not Caution campaign which is calling for perpetrators of violence on pub staff to be dealt with by the courts.

Inspector John Fox, Thames Valley's alcohol-related violent crime coordinator, said the force - the biggest non-Metropolitan force in the UK - was keen to work with and help responsible licensees.

He said: "We are planning an internal campaign in Thames Valley Police, supported the Crown Prosecution Service.

"It is to reinforce the message that pubs with responsible and effective staff should be fully supported in carrying out their jobs and should be seen in the same way as the public servants that they are.

"It is important for us to reinforce to staff how important well run premises are to us and to everyone in the community."

He was not aware of any specific cases of violent attacks on licensees in the area, he added, but had been provided with information on other incidents across the country by Baker.

Baker said having the support of Thames Valley has given the campaign a boost.

"I am pleased that a force the size of Thames Valley Police is treating this as a serious issue that needs to be looked at," he said.

"The key thing for them is that they recognise licensees as key partners working in the night-time economy and that they can be vulnerable because they deal with members of the public who can on occasion behave in an anti-social way.

"It is advantageous to them to support the campaign because it helps them achieve their objective of reducing alcohol-related crime."

Meanwhile a production company is currently working on a film about the campaign, including intreviews with victims of attacks, which will be screened at various industry events.

More than 750 people have signed an online petition supporting the campaign. Add your name at petitions.number10.gov.uk/courtnotcaution/​