Sandwell Pubwatch working in partnership against crime and disorder for a safer Sandwell.

What is Pub Watch?

Over recent years, the police have forged successful partnerships with pub landlords across Sandwell through the Pub Watch scheme operating in Oldbury, Rowley Regis, Smethwick, Tipton, Wednesbury and West Bromwich. 

Pub Watch aims to reduce disorder and crime by improving communication between licensed premised and the police.  Members of the scheme work closely with each other and the police to fast track information on incidents and likely troublemakers to all those involved.  

Licensing officers also provide crime reduction advice to pub landlords and staff as part of the scheme.

Why join Pub Watch?

Sandwell Pub Watch is a community based crime prevention scheme, organised by licensees to afford each other confidence and support, as well as some form of protection.  At its simplest the scheme provides a communication link between licensees, the object of which is to combat violence and other criminal conduct. It also provides better communication between licensees and police and provides a forum for the discussion and solution of problems relating to crime on licensed premises.       

What are the advantages?

For the licensed trade:

• Deters troublemakers
• Reduces the risk of assault of licensees, staff and customers
• More effective response to requests for assistance
• Improved public image and a sales environment in which trade can prosper
   

For the police:

• More information about potential trouble-makers
• More precise details in calls for assistance and more effective use of resources
• Decreased incidents associated with licensed premises
• Improved liaison with the licensees

How does it work?

Sandwell Pub Watch identifies potential problems and troublemakers and comes up with strategies for dealing with them. We consider under-age drinking and anti-social behaviour such as drunkenness and street drinking, theft, drugs, criminal damage and vandalism and assaults. 

Banned from one banned from all

With the support of the police, acting in an advisory role, those engaging in any unacceptable behaviour are identified and may be banned by the Pub Watch.   

Each member undertakes not to allow banned individuals to drink in their premises thus reducing their ability to cause further problems. 

What do I do now?