12/6/23: Licensees have held the first Oban Pubwatch meeting for a year.
by Rita Campbell
Oban Pubwatch has been reinstated after licensees noticed a rise in disorder since the scheme stopped running.
Michael Durkin, chairman of Oban and Lorn Pubwatch, behind the bar at Coasters.
Pub Watch means that anyone behaving badly in one pub is barred from all premises in the town.
But it fell by the wayside following Covid and has not been operating for over a year.
Michael Durkin outside Coasters.
On Thursday, Oban Pubwatch members met up for the first time since last June. Michael Durkin, who runs Coasters bar, was re-elected as chairman.
Most of the licensees in the town are part of Pubwatch. They will hold monthly meetings to discuss reports from any incidents in licensed premises. Police have allocated two officers to support the scheme.
Only people who are verbally or physically abusive, or involved in drug-related incidents, are considered for being placed on Pubwatch.
Each incident will be considered by the group and members will decide if a person should be barred and how long for.
Police would inform person they were put on Pubwatch
Mr Durkin said: “The ban could be anything from six months to two years. Previously police would send a letter informing the person they are on Pub Watch.
“Now they will be handed a letter if and when they enter the bar. Each pub will have a template.”
At present there is only one person on Pubwatch in the town. When numbers were highest, there were 14 people on the list.
Mr Durkin added: “It is the threat of being put on it that is effective. It is a good method for us to use to calm any situation down.
Licensees noticed more incidents taking place when we didn’t have that threat. Oban is a small town and people hear what’s going on.
“We are pleased to have Pubwatch back up and running. It will help ensure that people can enjoy a pleasant evening. This should reduce the chance of any serious incidents taking place.”
As part of the scheme, publicans have an informal WhatsApp group to pass information along about any trouble taking place in the town.
NPW would like to acknowledge that the story and photographs appear as courtesy of journalist Rita Campbell – The Press and Journal www.pressandjournal.co.k
