The Nottingham City Pubwatch scheme, has been awarded the annual National Pubwatch Award for its positive approach to partnership working and its efforts to promote safety in the night time economy.
Representatives from the Nottingham City scheme, together with other finalists, attended a prestigious House of Lords awards dinner last night, where they were presented with the winner’s trophy.
This year the awards event was sponsored by JD Wetherspoon.
Now in its eighth year, the National Pubwatch Awards champion the work of local Pubwatch schemes and their efforts to provide safe drinking environments for customers and staff in licensed premises across the UK.
Entrants are judged by a panel of National Pubwatch Committee members, who identify the scheme which in their opinion, has made the greatest contribution to its community.
Steve Baker, Chairman of National Pubwatch, said:
“Pubwatch schemes, continue to demonstrate that they play a very positive role in local partnership working. I would like to congratulate all our finalists for the contribution they have made to the safety of the night time economy.”
Nottingham City Pubwatch has been in operation for over 30 years and has over 200 members on its closed Facebook page.
The city centres reputation hit an all-time low in 2007, when it received adverse publicity about the high levels of crime, which impacted on student and visitor numbers.
A leisure BID was formed and Pubwatch worked closely with it and the local authorities to address various issues. As a consequence of the combined partnership approach, the reputation of the city centre has been restored.
They have initiated or supported an impressive number of crime prevention initiatives, such as the distribution and availability of defibrillators and special medical kits for use in the case of knife attacks. They have also worked closely with other organisations to promote safety in the night time economy, a significant example of that approach is their work with Drinkaware to pilot a behaviour change intervention for vulnerable customers, which has developed into the ‘Drinkaware Crew’.
The judges highlighted two specific initiatives. Firstly, the use of a cinema for meetings; a venue which has provided an ideal space to provide specialist training to large numbers of people and the screenings of training video’s including those produced by National Pubwatch. Secondly the practical and financial support given to the local Street Pastors, who benefit from an annual contribution of £2,000.
Also recognised as ‘Highly Commended’ were Reading and Pontypridd Pubwatch Schemes. The judges highlighted Readings work on reducing knife crime and their adoption of a dispersal policy. Pontypridd was praised for its work around safeguarding vulnerable people and its supporting relationship with the Business Improvement District.
