Bishop Auckland licensees fear any cuts to police numbers will lead to rise in anti-social behaviour

12:00am Monday 11th March 2013 in News Photograph of the Author By Dani Webb, Chief Reporter (South Durham)

LICENSEES fear there will be a tragedy on their doorsteps unless police keep a closer eye on drinkers at closing time.

Members of Pub Watch in Bishop Auckland are concerned any reduction in officers could leave them exposed to serious anti-social behaviour from punters on Friday and Saturday nights.

While there is still a police presence in the Market Place at the weekend, a number of licensees say there is a noticeable difference compared to just two years ago.

However, Chief Superintendent Ivan Wood, head of neighbourhood policing at Durham Police, said there has been no reduction in officer numbers and that people should be confident any incidents will be dealt with.

Chris Ball, who runs The Postchaise (CORR) and is the chairman of Pub Watch, said: “Trade is the quietest it ever has been so we need all the customers we can get, but we don’t want trouble.

“Our members are doing everything properly, but we don’t want any problems because of lack of support from the police.

“We need regular officers who build up a relationship with the licensees and also our customers.”

Raj Degan, of No 1 Market Place (CORR), said: “It is good for us to have the police around. People see the officers and don’t want trouble. What we need is joint training with the police so we can work together.”

There are more than 30 pubs in Bishop Auckland, but only half are in Pub Watch and of them just nine are active members.

PC Alex Riley, of Bishop Auckland Police, said: “We have a zero-tolerance approach towards anyone causing any hassle in the town centre. We fully support the licensees in the work they have been doing and urge all landlords to get involved in Pub Watch.

Chief Superintendent Ivan Wood, head of neighbourhood policing at Durham Police, said: “There has been no reduction in frontline resources within Bishop Auckland.

“Our policing style is intelligence-led, which means our resources are allocated to areas of highest demand.

"Crime within Bishop Auckland town centre area has reduced significantly within the last two to three years and it is a safe place for people to live and visit.

“Members of the public can be confident police officers will be there when they are needed.

“We expect licensees to manage their premises responsibly and will continue to work with licensees in Bishop Auckland to make the town even safer.”

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Comments (4)

8:07am Mon 11 Mar 13

George BA says...

Maybe if licensees didn't serve clients who had already drunk too much they would have safer premises, and of course it is illegal to serve someone who is drunk, but no one seems to have told the bar staff.
They are so desperate for trade now they turn blind eyes, and only shout when things get out of hand.
Maybe if licensees didn't serve clients who had already drunk too much they would have safer premises, and of course it is illegal to serve someone who is drunk, but no one seems to have told the bar staff. They are so desperate for trade now they turn blind eyes, and only shout when things get out of hand. George BA

6:51pm Mon 11 Mar 13

stevegg says...

George BA wrote:
Maybe if licensees didn't serve clients who had already drunk too much they would have safer premises, and of course it is illegal to serve someone who is drunk, but no one seems to have told the bar staff.
They are so desperate for trade now they turn blind eyes, and only shout when things get out of hand.
Totally agree. These licensees blame alll the trouble on the police but they are mostly to blame with their cut price drinks offers encouraging people to get drunk and then still serving them, they only kick them out when they start causing problems and expect police to be there instantly. If they are that concerned why dont they fund police officers as its mainly the results of their trade that causes the problems! The licensing laws need changing back to sensible hours which would also help. On a similar note Inspector Ivan Wood is obviously toeing the party line and telling the public what they want to hear with regards to police numbers. I know several front line police officers in Durham who all tell me the same story that there can be as few as 50 officers on a night shift for the whole county, Bishop has been known to have as few as 3 and in some outlying areas none at all or just 1. I bet he doesnt work night shifts or weekends!
[quote][p][bold]George BA[/bold] wrote: Maybe if licensees didn't serve clients who had already drunk too much they would have safer premises, and of course it is illegal to serve someone who is drunk, but no one seems to have told the bar staff. They are so desperate for trade now they turn blind eyes, and only shout when things get out of hand.[/p][/quote]Totally agree. These licensees blame alll the trouble on the police but they are mostly to blame with their cut price drinks offers encouraging people to get drunk and then still serving them, they only kick them out when they start causing problems and expect police to be there instantly. If they are that concerned why dont they fund police officers as its mainly the results of their trade that causes the problems! The licensing laws need changing back to sensible hours which would also help. On a similar note Inspector Ivan Wood is obviously toeing the party line and telling the public what they want to hear with regards to police numbers. I know several front line police officers in Durham who all tell me the same story that there can be as few as 50 officers on a night shift for the whole county, Bishop has been known to have as few as 3 and in some outlying areas none at all or just 1. I bet he doesnt work night shifts or weekends! stevegg

12:57pm Tue 12 Mar 13

Little owl says...

I travel through the town regularly on a Friday, Saturday and Sunday night and one thing i would like to know is, what pubs? the place is little more than a ghost town. I remember when the weekend in Bishop market place used to be crawling with people out enjoying themselves and there was always a good police presence, so if there are no punters why do you need a big police presence?
I travel through the town regularly on a Friday, Saturday and Sunday night and one thing i would like to know is, what pubs? the place is little more than a ghost town. I remember when the weekend in Bishop market place used to be crawling with people out enjoying themselves and there was always a good police presence, so if there are no punters why do you need a big police presence? Little owl

7:01am Wed 13 Mar 13

John Justice says...

Great to see some very pertinent comments about this issue. It has always surprised me that little is said about the licencing laws that clearly put the onus of allowing drunkeness or serving punters on licenced premises who are drunk on the licencee. For far two long this particular law has been ignored by both the Police and the Licencing industry. More effort needs to be done "In House" to prevent trouble before it starts. Those licencees who are active members of Pub Watch are to be congratulated but it should be a condition of the licence that all licencees must become active members. As for the numbers of Police Officers in Bishop Auckland, "Front Line Resources"?. Come on Ivan the issue is Police Officers on the ground, not supplimmented by PSO or other Support Staff. Those of us like stevegg who do have knowledge and contacts within the Police know that Front Line Policing has been compromised. Your comment that crime in the town centre has fallen can be significantly attributed to the fact that many punters travel elsewhere hence the fall in business and the fall in crime with little significant impact by the Police. Policing has now, as a result of fewer officers become responsive and not preventive. Not your fault nor the fault of the Constabulary but I get annoyed by management speak that hides the true problems and treat the public like uneducated fools.
Great to see some very pertinent comments about this issue. It has always surprised me that little is said about the licencing laws that clearly put the onus of allowing drunkeness or serving punters on licenced premises who are drunk on the licencee. For far two long this particular law has been ignored by both the Police and the Licencing industry. More effort needs to be done "In House" to prevent trouble before it starts. Those licencees who are active members of Pub Watch are to be congratulated but it should be a condition of the licence that all licencees must become active members. As for the numbers of Police Officers in Bishop Auckland, "Front Line Resources"?. Come on Ivan the issue is Police Officers on the ground, not supplimmented by PSO or other Support Staff. Those of us like stevegg who do have knowledge and contacts within the Police know that Front Line Policing has been compromised. Your comment that crime in the town centre has fallen can be significantly attributed to the fact that many punters travel elsewhere hence the fall in business and the fall in crime with little significant impact by the Police. Policing has now, as a result of fewer officers become responsive and not preventive. Not your fault nor the fault of the Constabulary but I get annoyed by management speak that hides the true problems and treat the public like uneducated fools. John Justice

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