PUB landlords in Kingswinford and Wordsley will now share information in a bid to crackdown on booze related crime.

The licensees have signed up to a Pub Watch scheme, supported by Dudley Council, the police and the borough's business crime partnership, to tackle abusive customers.

They are trialling a radio system, which allows them to immediately warn the other group members about hostile customers who could be headed in their direction.

Group members can then decide whether to ban offenders from all of their pubs.

John Polychronakis, the council's chief executive and chair of Dudley’s crime and disorder partnership, Safe and Sound, said: “Everyone should be allowed to socialise in peace and we fully support any business in the borough which aims to reduce anti-social behaviour.

"The aim of this scheme is to provide a safer and more secure drinking environment.

“Pub landlords will be looking out for unacceptable behaviour. This could be assaults, thefts, or drug-related incidents. People who commit these offences will then be banned by all of the members of the PubWatch.

"I hope that this sends out a strong message to troublemakers that disorder will not be tolerated.”

Dudley police's licensing officer, Katie Turley, continued: “Whilst Kingswinford and Wordsley does not suffer from excessive numbers of alcohol-related incidents, we are determined to ensure that the numbers of crimes remain low, so officers are working closely with local licensees to robustly target any individuals causing trouble.

“The message from the police and Pub Watch is have a great, safe night across the borough, and police and licensees will work together to seek and arrest those few people who cause trouble in the town centre.”

She added: “We will not tolerate instances of alcohol-related disorder and by working closely with the licensees we will ensure that those involved in such incidents will not be welcomed at licensed premises within our towns.”