Archive - Thursday, 3 January 2002


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Behave or get out

BARRY'S culture of boozy weekend violence has been nipped in the bud with a unique new scheme.

Club owners, pub landlords and police have joined to instigate the second phase of Club Watch, which could see louts being banned from all pubs and clubs.

Initially launched in April 2001, the project keeps troublemakers away from licenced premises in a bid to stop them spoiling the night for other clubbers.

Six months on the scheme has proved so successful, it has gained extra funding from the National Assembly to put officers on regular patrol around Barry Island to back up the scheme.

Community Safety Sergeant Andy Rice told the News: "We now have a foot patrol around the area on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.

"The officers on duty start at the new Eze Bar, which joined the scheme when they opened. They then walk across the Causeway to the Island." So far, this has proved an excellent deterrent.

PC Kate Mabbett said: "You get a feel for trouble, but most nights there's a very friendly atmosphere. Many clubbers get a really amusing innocent look when we arrive for a chat with the landlords."

The reaction from the landlords has also been good. They are in touch with each other via mobile phones, and if trouble starts, door staff from other premises act as support. Now the landlords want to increase the level of communication later in the year to contact the duty officers directly.

Sergeant Rice added: "Prevention is the key word. We don't want trouble, and often the sight of a uniform is enough to defuse any alcohol-related violence."

Door staff have the right to search people - the police have encouraged this to help stop drugs abuse in nightclubs.

Head doorman of the Acropolis Wayne Takata has noticed an improvement.

He told the News: "We have regular meetings. After any incident of trouble, with the agreement of all members in the scheme, known trouble-makers are 'club watched' or barred from all the clubs on the Island."

It could mean a complete life ban. Sergeant Rice said: "If an individual is arrested as a result of an alcohol-related offence, they will appear in court and probably get fined.

"But if there's a chance they won't be allowed back on the Island with their friends, it's more likely they'll think twice."