Published: Thursday, 18th March, 2010 7:00am

Honest Toun venues clamp down with new Pub Watch

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PUBS and clubs across Musselburgh are uniting to rid the town of violent troublemakers, under-age drinkers and drug dealers.

Troublemakers could find themselves barred from every premises taking part in the new Pub Watch scheme for a minimum of two years if they are caught misbehaving.

Harsher bans will also be considered for those involved in serious crimes such as drug dealing and violent assaults on pub staff.

The scheme is being organised by Rena Vickers and her son Alex, owners of the town's Mayfair bar and restaurant, and has already amassed support from more than 20 other licensed premises in Musselburgh, Whitecraig and Wallyford.

Mrs Vickers is hoping the scheme will be up and running within the next month, and believes reducing anti-social behaviour in the town's pubs and clubs will have wider benefits for the community.

She said: "I owned a pub in the Leith area and we had a very similar scheme to deal with the troublemakers which worked really well.

"There's no point in barring someone just for them to go to a pub next door or along the road and carry on misbehaving.

"We all need to work together on this, and that means publicans, the police, the council licensing board and taxi drivers.

"At the moment it is an absolute nightmare in Musselburgh on a Friday and Saturday night. It is a very violent place and there is a bad drug problem going on.

"We need to pass each other information, and the Pub Watch Scheme will help us do that. We will also be putting up a list of names on public display, and also the reasons why they are barred.

"The ban will last for two years, which, although a long time, will hopefully send out the message that we are very serious about cleaning this lovely town up."

Preliminary meetings have already taken place between publicans, police officers and council officials with the latest meeting was to take place on Monday at the Mayfair.

Mrs Vickers is appealing for more public houses and private clubs to join the initiative.

She added: "We have had trouble here before but have stamped it out by installing CCTV and taking part in the Challenge Under-25 scheme - where anyone that looks under the age of 25 will be asked for identification.

"We also have UV scanners to prove their ID is legitimate.

"This is our town and all we are asking is to be able to make the streets safe for people to come out and enjoy themselves."

Inspector Helen Miller, of Lothian and Borders Police, said: "We very much welcome this initiative and, for us, the key thing is the premises who are taking part work together and push this project forward with us in the background. It is a positive step towards combating anti-social behaviour, drunkenness, violence and drug-taking.

"We are also pleased so many premises have signed up to the scheme and would encourage every public house and private club to join up as soon as they can because it is only together can we make Musselburgh a safer environment."