Aims and Objectives of Reading Pubwatch

Overall Aim

The overall aim of the Scheme is:
To make Reading a safer place to enjoy a night out for customers and staff

Objectives

To prevent within the boundaries of the Scheme

•Violence (or the threat of violence)
•Vandalism
•The dealing in and taking of illegal drugs
•Drunkenness and anti-social behaviour
•Underage drinking

Measures

•Identify those people who through their criminal or anti-social behaviour should be excluded from premises within the Scheme.
•Strictly enforce the exclusion list as agreed by Scheme members.
•Exchange freely information of relevance to the Scheme to Scheme members and the Police.
•Treat with the strictest of confidence any information exchanged within the remit of the Scheme.
•Contact other Scheme members to inform them in advance of any potential unruly and problem customers.
•Employ only SIA registered door supervisors.
•Brief all staff members and relief staff alike of the provisions of the Scheme.
•Work in partnership with the Police and Local Authority to achieve the objectives of the Scheme.
•Support all other members of the Scheme.

Membership

•Membership of the Scheme shall be open to any licensed premises within the Reading Borough
•Attendance at meetings may be by licensee / owner / manager / partner or responsible member of staff and representatives from the Door Supervisors

Ex officio members

•Police and Local Authority offers will have ex officio membership of the Scheme.
•Such members will have no rights to identify any person to be excluded from premises within the Scheme or to vote in relation to any exclusion.

Meetings

•Meetings will be held monthly, with June meeting being the AGM.
•Minutes will be taken of all meetings, copies of which will be circulated to members along with any other relevant information and posted in the secure part of the website.
•Extraordinary meetings may be called at the request of 3 Scheme members.
•Attendance at meetings is vital to the successful operation of the Scheme. Each member (or their representative) shall therefore attend an absolute minimum of 10 meetings per year and should include the AGM. Non attendance will be monitored and will result in expulsion, other than in exceptional circumstances.

Subscriptions

•Subscriptions will be payable annually at a rate set at the Annual General Meeting
•The rate is Currently £50 per year from the Town Centre late night bars/venues group am £10 per year for all other members

Disciplinary Action

•Any member knowingly contravening a provision of the Scheme or acting in a manner which is detrimental to the Scheme may be expelled, subject to a majority decision by the remaining Scheme members.
•In the event of any such disciplinary action the member concerned shall have 14 days in which to lodge an appeal. Any member excluded will be suspended pending the hearing of any appeal.

Exclusions

•Any person "excluded" under the provisions of the Scheme shall be barred from entering the premises of any Pubwatch Scheme member during the normal opening hour of that premise, without exception.
•A member may at any meeting put forward for exclusion, any individual whom that member believes to be responsible for any of the following in, or adjacent to that members premises.

Criteria for exclusion

•An act of violence to any person
•Any threat of violence or act of intimidation towards any licensee of staff member.
•Damage or threat of damage to property belonging to the licensee or staff.
•Any act of vandalism or anti-social behaviour.
•Any use, possession or distribution of illegal drugs.
•Theft of property belonging to the licensee or staff.
•Possession of any weapon.
•Any act of racism.
•Purchasing of alcohol for a person subject of an exclusion.
•Membership of, or close association with any criminal gang or group, or any other person already excluded under the provisions of the Scheme.
•Members are reminded that in addition to the above they have as licensees the power under the Licensing Act to exclude any person they wish from their own premises.
•Members shall outline the circumstances of the incident and a decision to exclude or otherwise will be taken on the basis of a simple majority of those members present.
•When a person is excluded, a letter will be forwarded to them via the Thames Valley Police  informing that person that they have been excluded and the consequences of any breach of the ban.
•Alternatively a warning letter may also be sent out if members feel that this is more appropriate in relation to an incident brought to their attention.
•Individuals subject of an exclusions will be given an opportunity to appeal against their exclusion. Written representations outlining the grounds for their appeal must be forwarded to the Pubwatch Scheme prior to the date of the next meeting.
•The members will discuss the excluded persons representations and vote on that persons continued exclusion or removal of his/her name from the exclusion list. (Secret ballot). A two-thirds majority of members present is required to remove a name.