EXCELLENT communication between pub licensees and landlords added to continual liaising with the police is proving to be extremely effective in Alcester.

The Pub Watch scheme which operates in Alcester involves all town centre pubs as well as neighbouring ones who receive the minutes of meetings and support the scheme.

Members meet on the first Thursday of every month and discuss all the incidents which have taken place since they last met.

Anybody who is guilty of violent behaviour in one pub is reported to the others and then automatically banned from them all, a step which current chairman Rory Spence believes is a big deterrent.

Mr Spence, the licensee of The Hollybush said: "I think this method really makes people think before they do something stupid. They don't want to be banned so they hesitate before acting in a way which effects others.

"We also work extremely closely with Alcester police which is a huge help. PC Steve Timms is an excellent police liaison officer who takes a very active part in the scheme and really supports us."

And Mr Spence feels the scheme has been very successful in reducing alcohol related trouble in the town.

He said: "We don't have the problems we used to have in the town. We will never completely eradicate high jinks which can sometimes end in trouble but we can try and control it to a substantial extent."

Members have developed a telephone tree system whereby a landlord or landlady who sees a fight in their pub can quickly pass a message on to all other pubs which can then refuse to serve the guilty party with any more alcohol.