Booze crime figure down for Christmas (From Stourbridge News)

Booze crime figure down for Christmas

8:41am Tuesday 16th January 2007 in Local

COPS in Stourbridge have announced a major drop in crime figures for town centre bars over the Christmas holiday.

Statistics relating to violence and serious crime, including drug offences, taking place inside venues fell by around 50 per cent compared with the same period in 2005.

Speaking at the latest pubwatch meeting, licensing officer Pc Scott Turley, also revealed drug finds were down, partly due to doormen searching revellers as the enter venues.

During the meeting of town centre bar owners and cops, on Thursday January 11, Pc Turley singled out Lloyds bar on the High Street for particular praise.

He said: "People know when they got to Lloyds searches are done and not to take gear, reducing the number of drug finds which has got to be good."

The meeting also heard details of a new scheme providing on-line access to details of troublemakers serving Pubwatch bans.

A new website, set for introduction at Easter, will allow landlords and staff to access pictures of around 50 of the worst offenders plus providing instant communication between venues and police.

Despite the positive message, officers believe the influx of late-night bars is still generating problems and there is further work to be done.

Pc Turley said: "We have got to keep working on this, a three per cent area of the town produces 25 per cent of the violence.

"We are doing well but we have got to keep pushing for ideas to combat it."