Diageo National Pubwatch Awards open for 2018

The awards, now in their seventh year, recognise the work of local Pubwatch schemes throughout the UK and their efforts to provide safe drinking environments for customers and staff.

In November last year, Romford’s Pubwatch scheme collected the top prize at the glittering event in London at the House of Commons.

The Essex town's Pubwatch submission received praise across the board by the judges for reducing the number of crimes committed at Pubwatch member venues by more than half (56%) in the year.

Its work with local police, medics and efforts to fund local street pastors was highlighted, alongside a joined-up ID scanning machine and online messaging initiative that helped to communicate and administer a banning scheme.

Finalists will be invited to attend a glittering awards event in the House of Lords later in the year.

Entries are welcomed not only from the members of a Pubwatch but also anyone wishing to nominate a scheme on their behalf, with their express consent.

The only stipulation is that the scheme is registered on the NPW (National Pubwatch) mapping tool.

The online application process will run until 31 August 2018 and the judging will take place on Tuesday, 4 September.

National Pubwatch ran its 15th annual conference in February in Nottingham, in association with the Security Industry Authority (SIA).

Key note speakers this year were Chief Constable Craig Guildford of Nottinghamshire Police; SIA director of partnerships and interventions David Humphries; and Jonathon Swaine, managing director of Fuller's Inns.

To enter, go to http://www.nationalpubwatch.org.uk/pubwatch-awards/​