 Trouble drinkers can be banned from more than 50 pubs and clubs |
Known troublemakers will be stopped from going into Swansea's pubs and clubs at night as part of a new scheme being launched by police. The initiative is the first of its kind in Wales and will allow licensees to refuse entry to anyone whose name is on an exclusion list.
It follows a daytime scheme which has reduced the number of persistent offenders going into the city's shops.
More than 50 licensed premises are taking part in the initiative.
The scheme will mean that anyone involved in crime and disorder-related incidents within the city centre, or on the university campus, could be excluded from dozens of pubs and clubs.
Photographs of the people served with exclusion notices will be distributed amongst the participating members of the scheme.
Their exclusion could be either for short periods of time or indefinitely, depending on the severity of the offence.
Police said that the Night Time Exclusion Scheme, which is being mounted as part of the Safer Swansea partnership, is an example of their determination to crackdown on anti-social behaviour in the city.
Norma Thomas of the Safer Swansea Business Crime Reduction Partnership said: "The scheme has already been successfully implemented in the retail sector, where in recent years, exclusion orders and photograph-sharing has seen the reduction in crime at key times of the year.
 The scheme aims to make a night out safer for clubbers in the city |
"Importantly, it has reduced the persistent offending culture which had previously existed in the city."
South Wales Police Inspector Rhodri Williams said: "The message is clear, if you are excluded from one of the participating premises you are excluded from them all."
Paul Sheppard, chairman of Swansea's Pub and Club Watch and manager of the nightclub Time & Envy said: "In protecting our customers and staff from the small minority of people who wish to cause trouble, our message is simple... 'we don't want you!'"
'Better protect students'
Dan Hilton, president of Swansea Students Union said: "The new system will better protect the students here in Swansea, enabling them to safely enjoy themselves.
"It is a credit to all the organisations involved that this step to safeguarding our communities, and dealing with those who are intent on causing trouble, has been taken."
South Wales Police Chief Constable Barbara Wilding launched the project at the Time & Envy club.
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In protecting our customers and staff from the small minority of people who wish to cause trouble, our message is simple... 'we don't want you!' 
