PUBS CALL TIME AFTER FRACAS (From Warrington Guardian)

PUBS CALL TIME AFTER FRACAS

PUBS in Middlewich were forced to shut their doors on Sunday to prevent trouble in the town escalating to dangerous levels.

At 4.30pm police received a number of calls about several disturbances in Middlewich town centre, mainly in and around Wheelock Street, outside The Vaults pub, The One Stop shop and near to The Cheshire Cheese pub.

It is believed that a group of people who do not live permanently in the town were responsible for the weekend's events.

One pub owner said members of the group were drinking heavily, vomiting in the street and vandalising cars.

As a result of these incidents officers arrested four men, who were taken to Northwich Police Station.

A 20-year-old was charged with assault and a 21-year-old was cautioned for a public order offence.

Another 21-year-old and a 26-year-old were released without charge.

During the incidents the majority of pubs in the town closed their doors as part of the Pubwatch scheme, which aims to tackle anti-social behaviour.

Sgt Gareth Woods, of the Middlewich Community Action Team (CAT), said: "This type of behaviour will not be tolerated by the police and we will continue to take the most positive action by arresting those who feel that this type of behaviour is acceptable."

Landlords in Middlewich teamed up with the Middlewich CAT to form the Pubwatch scheme in February 2003.

They agreed to adopt the scheme following a number of meetings between themselves, shopkeepers, the community wardens and the CAT team, which were designed to address problems of vandalism and disorder in the town.

Under Pubwatch, anyone who persistently causes trouble in one of the town's pubs can be barred from all the licensed premises in the scheme, essentially banning them from drinking anywhere but their own home.

A spokesman for the Middlewich scheme said: "We have a system whereby if there is an incident with five or more people, there is a 'ring round' system to alert everyone.

"What we do is shut the doors to make it look like we are closed until the incident has been dealt with by police.

"On Sunday we were shut for about an hour-and-a-half."

Middlewich county councillor Dave Sutton appealed to people to not let drink spoil a good night out in the town.

He said: "We want a lively atmosphere in the town but without any trouble.

"If people see any trouble they should not respond and either tell the bar staff or the police who can deal with it accordingly."

continue to take the most positive action by arresting those who feel that this type of behaviour is acceptable."

Landlords in Middlewich teamed up with the Middlewich CAT to form the Pubwatch scheme in February 2003. They agreed to adopt the scheme following a number of meetings between themselves, shopkeepers, the community wardens and the CAT team, which were designed to address problems of vandalism and disorder in the town.

Under Pubwatch, anyone who persistently causes trouble in one of the town's pubs can be barred from all the licensed premises in the scheme, essentially banning them from drinking anywhere but their own home.

A spokesman for the Middlewich scheme said: "We have a system whereby if there is an incident with five or more people, there is a 'ring round' system to alert everyone.

"What we do is shut the doors to make it look like we are closed until the incident has been dealt with by police.

"On Sunday we were shut for about an hour-and-a-half."

Middlewich county councillor Dave Sutton appealed to people to not let drink spoil a good night out in the town.

He said: "We want a lively atmosphere in the town but without any trouble.

"If people see any trouble they should not respond and either tell the bar staff or the police who can deal with it accordingly."

jdriscoll@guardiangrp.co.uk