Pub bans to target drunken yobs

Police said there are some persistent troublemakers

Violent drunken louts who cause trouble in one pub could be banned from more than 60 licensed premises in Oxford under a new scheme.

The Banned project targets "a minority of persistent offenders" who attack people, cause criminal damage and use or supply drugs.

A pub that issues a ban can refer the case to a licensees' committee who can extend it to all Pubwatch members.

The ban will last for a year but anyone barred will be able to appeal.

The scheme is being run by the city's Pubwatch group, the Nightsafe Partnership, and city centre management company OX1.

'Bigger issue'

Pubwatch chairman, Darren Kent, landlord of the Turf Tavern, said: "This scheme will make a big difference.

"It gets across the message to the few who do cause trouble in Oxford city centre that from now on being banned will be an even bigger issue.

"If you get banned from one city centre venue you're likely to be banned from all sixty or so who are members of our Pubwatch group."

Insp Richard Brown said: "We are working closely with city centre licensees to ensure that the minority of persistent troublemakers we see in Oxford are barred from all their premises.

"The object is to make Oxford an even safer place for an evening's entertainment."