Nuisance behaviour results in bans

Nearly 160 people committing crime or causing a nuisance in licensed premises across Basildon have been banned under the Pubwatch and Nightsafe schemes.

Basildon Pubwatch, which was set up in October 2008, sees licensees from most of the pubs across the Basildon district, decide on who should be banned from all premises under the Behave or Be Banned (B.O.B.B) scheme.

If the pubwatch committee decide that an individual has been a nuisance or has committed crime in their establishment, they can be banned for up to two years. Forty two people are still currently banned under the Pubwatch Scheme.

Nightsafe, which covers all the licensed premises within Festival Leisure Park, was launched in December 2009, and currently has 40 people banned under the B.O.B.B scheme.

Basildon district commander, Chief Insp Rachel Wood, is fully supportive of the schemes, which are run by local licensees. She said: "We are wholly supportive of the Basildon Pubwatch scheme and Festival Leisure's Nightsafe scheme, which are run by licensees in the area.

“The schemes have effectively dealt with a large number of people causing a nuisance at local drinking spots.

“This should send out a strong message to people committing crime or nuisance in local pubs that, not only will you be dealt with robustly for committing crime, but if you offend in licensed premises in Basildon, you will have nowhere to drink or socialise.”

Once the ban time expires, people can go back to the licensed premises at the discretion of the landlord, but as they are now on the radar of the scheme, they would be further banned if they continue to cause trouble.