Criminals barred from pubs

New police scheme for pubs and clubs in the city centre

Violent criminals are to be barred from Southampton's city centre pubs and clubs, as part of a new crackdown.

People arrested at a license premises and subsequently convicted of a violent offence will be excluded from the establishment they committed the crime in.

However, the Licensing Link policy of "barred from one, barred from all" effectively places a blanket ban on them from all main drinking venues.

Mugshots issued

The radical move follows the introduction of a new exclusion order scheme by police and licensees.

It was officially launched on Thursday at a meeting comprising of 50 licensees from local pubs and clubs who regularly discuss issues affecting their premises with Hampshire police.

Officers will then issue photographs of banned convicted criminal to the pubs and clubs in the scheme so that staff recognise their faces.

People who choose not to heed this advice will find themselves barred from virtually all licensed premises in the city centre Inspector Jon Snook

Inspector Jon Snook, who heads Hampshire Police licensing unit, said: "If a person then tries to gain entry into a pub from which they are barred, they are committing an offence, which although not arrestable, they will be liable to a fine."

"We view this as a very positive step in promoting the city centre as a safe venue and it should act as a warning that violent crime will not be tolerated in this area, " he added.

A letter will also be sent to the perpetrators informing them of the exclusion order.

Insp Hook said: "People who choose not to heed this advice will find themselves barred from virtually all licensed premises in the city centre."

The new measure follows the forces ongoing strategy to combat alcohol-related violent crime in the city centre.