Useful Contacts: Hampshire Constabulary: 999 for emergency services 101 - an easy to remember 24-hour number for non-emergency crime and anti-social behaviour issues as well as general enquiries. Crimestoppers: Website Admin:
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*** Press Release 16th Dec 2010 - Pubwatch works with NHS for a safer Island ***The Isle of Wight Pubwatch has invited the Island’s health services to work together with them to make both pubs and clubs and NHS services safer for patrons and patients. Working together will provide the opportunity for the sharing of information on a handful of individuals who cause problems and opportunities for health education in pubs and clubs. Chairman of Isle of Wight Pubwatch, Stuart Luke said: “Members of the Island’s Pubwatch scheme were keen to work with Island health services. There are a number of benefits for both sides. Pubwatch remains independent of both the Police and NHS but we believe that by working together we can create a safer Island for both our customers and NHS patients.” Pubwatch have invited the NHS to attend part of their meetings as observers. Where the NHS has exhausted all other avenues in dealing with individuals who are threatening and abusive to staff – mainly where the consumption of drink and drugs is involved – the NHS will pass the name of the individual to Pubwatch. Meeting in private, members of pubwatch will consider the information provided by the NHS alongside any other information available to them, and this may result in an individual being banned from entering the licensed premises of Pubwatch members on the Island. Individuals banned as part of the collaboration with the NHS will be notified of the Pubwatch ban in the same way that other people banned are notified. A letter prepared by Pubwatch will be passed to the Police to be hand delivered to the individual. The individual is allowed a full opportunity to appeal against any ban. Once the ban is in force the individual’s details are circulated to Pubwatch members on the Island and posted on the Pubwatch website. The photographs and names of banned persons are only displayed within the secure section of the Pubwatch website, never on public Internet view. Only Pubwatch licensees and authorised personnel have to access this information. Assistant Director Health and Safety and Security at NHS Isle of Wight, Connie Wendes, said: “The NHS has a zero tolerance policy on abuse and threatening behaviour against health service staff. Although incidents on the Island are low our ambulance, emergency department and mental health staff that bear the brunt of those who do cause trouble. “We welcomed the approach from the Island’s Pubwatch scheme and look forward to working with them. Passing individuals details on to Pubwatch will be a last resort for the NHS and is only likely to affect a handful of individuals. It is nevertheless a welcome addition to the action we can take against those who, predominantly due to the alcohol and drugs they have consumed, cause problems for both NHS staff and other patients. “This is also an important opportunity for the Island’s health service to work closely with publicans and club owners on promoting a responsible attitude towards alcohol, drugs and sex. Our Public Health Department and other agencies working in this field are looking forward to working together with Pubwatch members on future campaigns.” Hampshire Constabulary’s Licensing Sergeant on the Isle of Wight Mark Voller said: “Police support the aims and objectives of the independent Pubwatch scheme, which are to achieve a safer social drinking environment in pubs and clubs throughout the island. “Local Pubwatch schemes are supported in each case by a local police officer, but all decisions to ban troublemakers are made by the members themselves. The police do not have any voting rights at meetings, nor are recommendations made by officers. The police are referred to only for factual information, which is then only disclosed when relevant to the issue under discussion. “Pubwatch is therefore a scheme run ‘by licensees for licensees’, supported by the police, and now by the NHS. “On the island, this network has been further enhanced by the creation of a Pubwatch website, which can be viewed at www.iow-pubwatch.co.uk. This is not a police website, nor is it maintained by the police. It has a public page, and ‘members only’ pages, which contain images of banned persons. This site has proved extremely valuable to members as a means of identifying troublemakers throughout the various watches across the island. “The strength of Pubwatch is unity of purpose, expressed by the motto ‘banned from one banned from all’." |
