Night ban on sportswear in pubs

Hoodies and sportswear will be banned in bars at night

Sportswear, hooded tops and caps are to be banned from bars at night in Rhyl in a crackdown on pub crime.

Licensees will have the right to refuse entry to anyone wearing such clothing after a 9pm watershed.

Ten have so far signed up to the Rhyl Rules scheme, which also prohibits violence, drugs and stolen property. Under-21s will also be asked for ID.

Barmaid Ceri Tibbs, 21, of the Albert pub, said: "I think it's a great idea, and so do all the pubs round here.

North Wales Police and Denbighshire Council said: "The aim of the scheme is to highlight problems, and take action against those that commit offences at or near licensed premises by banning them from all premises within the Rhyl Rules scheme".

When people make a real effort to dress up for a social night out, they don't want to be near football hooligans and the mentality that goes with that Insp Roly Schwarz

As well as a ban on sportswear and hooded tops, random drugs searches will be carried out, and people will be asked to leave premises if found carrying any.

Anyone trying to sell stolen gear will be reported to police and banned, as well as anyone displaying violent behaviour.

Amongst other rules, nobody will be able to gain entry into a pub or club after 2am.

The statement added: "Licensees will be requesting better standards of dress, informing customers that random drug searches will be conducted, and implementing a final entry time into premises of 0200 hours.

"North Wales Police and Denbighshire County Council have pledged to support this new initiative by providing high visibility support to licensees during the busier weekend periods, together with their partner agencies."

The Rhyl Rules poster spells out the dos and don'ts for pubgoers

Posters, beer mats and leaflets are being distributed to publicise the scheme, which officially starts on 6 October.

'Better behaved'

If successful, it could spread to other towns in Denbighshire.

Ceri Tibbs said: "Hopefully people will be a bit better behaved because they know there's been a crackdown."

Asked if she thought a ban on sportswear was fair, she said: "Yes. People are allowed to wear it during the day, but not after 9pm.

"Let's be honest, most people just wanting to go out for a good night out don't dress up in sportswear anyway, they like to get dressed up."

Insp Roly Schwarz said: "We want to raise standards in licensed premises.

"One of the things which disappoints me is when people make a real effort to dress up for a social night out, they don't want to be near football hooligans and the mentality that goes with that.

"We want to change the image of Rhyl for ordinary people who are out to party.

"This is about trying to change people's behaviour setting out clear rules for people going for a night out."