Fife

Behave or Be Banned is the stark message being issued to pub-goers in West Fife in a new initiative being launched by Dunfermline’s Pub Watch Group. The campaign is based on a new series of common standards agreed by Pub Watch premises designed to extend a warm welcome to customers, but with explicit guidelines on what will not be tolerated.

The new code warns drinkers that drunk, violent, quarrelsome or disorderly behaviour could lead to arrest and that court convictions could lead to exclusion from pubs within the Dunfermline Pub Watch area

The new initiative has been launched as part of the National Violence Reduction Campaign, and commences from the 1 June 2011.

The Behave or Be Banned campaign follows on from a series of successful initiatives from the Safer Town Partnership, which in addition to Pub Watch includes Operation Safe Night, Taxi Marshalls, Street Pastors and Safe Zones.

Activity from wider partnership that includes local businesses, Dunfermline Delivers, and Fife Constabulary, has contributed towards further year on year reductions of recorded crime with a 10.9% decrease achieved across Fife against the previous year.  The Safer Town Partnership has played a significant part in making Dunfermline's streets safer than they have been for a number of years.  Police at Dunfermline reported a 10% rise in detection rates for serious assaults to 91% and 87% detection rate achieved for petty assaults with a reduction from 651 reports to 592 meaning 130 fewer victims than the previous year.

Chair of the Local Area Community Safety Committee, Councillor Joe Rosieak said of the launch "The Vast majority of Scotland consumes alcohol safely and sensibly without resorting to violence or other crimes.  However, there remains a risk of violence when alcohol is brought into the mix and I therefore welcome the National Violence Reduction Campaign as a means of targeting and addressing this minority.

Towns & cities across the country attract a large number of people who come to enjoy the "night-time economy" for the purpose of socialising and entertainment and Dunfermline is no different.

The Behave or Be Banned scheme being launched by the Pub Watch Group is a further example of how the people of Dunfermline want to work together in ensuring that the Town remains a safe and popular place for people to visit"

Behave or Be Banned is a list of common standards agreed by all of the Pub Watch premises with a view towards welcoming customers and members of the public by implementing and maintaining good practice, and also in protecting them and staff from unsociable and abusive persons.

Treasurer of the Dunfermline Pub Watch Group, John Thow said of the scheme: "We want to make sure that all the licensed premises work together to promote sensible drinking and ensure a common set of standards are in place to maintain the safe nighttime environment that we currently enjoy.

Through Behave or Be Banned, any person not complying with the standards will be subject to a potential Ban from all the licensed premises involved in Pub Watch.  We want to send out a message that anti-social or violent behaviour will not be tolerated across the town."

Local Area Chief Inspector Bob Baker said "The collaboration of licensed premises working together on Pub Watch has been one of a number of initiatives that has helped to create a safer and more secure town centre environment.

Pub Watch, along with the towns Taxi Marshall Scheme, Safe Zone, Street Pastors, CCTV coverage, Shop Safe and a high visibility Policing presence have all collectively helped to deliver on the local community safety strategy and has had a positive effect in helping to reduce crime in the area."

Susan Hughes, Chief Executive of Dunfermline Delivers said, "Dunfermline is developing a reputation as a safe and secure environment for people to enjoy themselves. It's essential that we continue this work as we strive to promote Dunfermline as a visitor destination with its history, shopping and busy events schedule."

Behave or Be Banned officially launches on 1st June 2011 with all Pub Watch premises displaying Posters that clearly detail 10 common standards as follows

1. A licensee can refuse entry and is under no obligation to give a reason for the refusal.
2. If you are troublesome, become a nuisance to other customers or misbehave in any way you are liable to be banned from these premises. In any event your details may be passed on to other premises in the Dunfermline Pub Watch Initiative where entry may also be refused.
3. You may be required to agree to a voluntary search for drugs or weapons by our staff.  You will be refused entry or asked to leave if you refuse.
4. If we deem that you have had too much to drink you will be refused service.
5. You will not be allowed to take your glass or bottle with you when you leave the premises as drinking in the public area around these premises is prohibited by law.
6. From 1st October 2011 if you look under 25 you will be refused service unless you provide authenticated identification i.e. Photographic European Driving Licence, Passport, Young Scot Card or any other such Accredited 'Pass' Card.
7. The licensee and his or her staff have the power to ask you to leave their premises.
8. You can be ejected from licensed premises and the police can be called to assist in ejecting you from those premises.
9. If you are drunk, violent, quarrelsome or disorderly and refuse to leave you are committing an offence under the Licensing Scotland Act 2005 and you may be arrested.
10. If you assault, threaten anyone, or cause damage to these premises and you are convicted by a court then the court may grant an order excluding you from these and other premises in the Dunfermline Pub Watch Initiative.

Click here to view poster/flyer.