Landlords are urged to join Pubwatch scheme
A LANDLORD has become one of the first to sign up to Pubwatch since the launch of the Mail’s Safer Burton campaign.
Bill Ganley, licensee of the The Grange Inn in Casey Lane, Shobnall, is now appealing to other publicans to do the same.
Mr Ganley said before he got involved with the Safer Burton crusade, he didn’t realise that Pubwatch was a scheme available to all pubs — not just town centre venues.
Mr Ganley, who is also Labour member for Shobnall on East Staffordshire Borough Council, said after learning about the benefits of signing up to Pubwatch he feels its something every other landlord should get involved in.
He told the Mail: “I didn’t really know much about Pubwatch before I supported the Mail’s Safer Burton campaign.
“I think it’s a brilliant idea and one designed so pubs can look out for each other.
“If trouble ever starts in my pub I would usually inform other local landlords that I know by ringing them, but with Pubwatch, there is a better system in place to inform all licensees.
“If a troublemaker causes a nuisance in a pub signed up to Pubwatch, they are then banned from all other Pubwatchsupporting pubs for a certain period of time.
“Each pub is issued with up-to-date images of who to be aware of.”
Mr Ganley said that by signing up to the scheme, landlords in the town could help others by helping themselves.
He said: “I think we have to look after our own interests because if I throw someone out of my pub, they might just go around the corner to another establishment and the landlord would not necessarily be aware that they were either underage, causing trouble or too drunk.
“I am signing up to Pubwatch this week to better protect my pub, my customers and to show how dedicated I am in supporting the Safer Burton campaign.
“I want to encourage other landlords to do the same.
“It’s worth getting involved in because it’s a way local landlords can work together to make our pubs and the community safer.”
If any licensees would like to sign up to Pubwatch as part of the Mail’s campaign, they are asked to call Paul Howard on 01283 500047.
