Overall Aim

The overall aim of the Scheme is:

"To maintain the licensed premises of members within South Shields as safe and enjoyable venues for customers and staff alike"

Objectives

To prevent within the boundaries of the Scheme

• Violence (or the threat of violence)

• Vandalism

• The dealing in and taking of illegal drugs

• Drunkenness and anti-social behaviour

• Underage drinking

Measures

• Identify those people who through their criminal or anti-social behaviour should be excluded from premises within the Scheme.

• Strictly enforce the exclusion list as agreed by Scheme members.

• Exchange freely information of relevance to the Scheme to Scheme members the Police and the Local Authority.

• Treat with the strictest of confidence any information exchanged within the remit of the Scheme.

• Contact other Scheme members to inform them in advance of any potential unruly and problem customers.

• Employ only SIA registered door supervisors.

• Brief all staff members and relief staff alike of the provisions of the Scheme.

• Work in partnership with the Police and Local Authority to achieve the objectives of the Scheme.

• Support all other members of the Scheme.

Membership

• Membership of the Scheme shall be open to any licensed premises within the precincts of South Shields.

• Attendance at meetings may be by licensee / owner / manager / partner or responsible member of staff.

Invited Guests

• Police and Local Authority officers will be invited to every meeting.

• Other agencies and speakers may be invited to meetings from time to time as appropriate.

• The Police, Local Authority and other invited guest will have no rights to identify any person to be excluded from premises within the scheme or to vote in relation to any exclusion.

Meetings

• Meetings will be held frequently during the course of the year, but on at least four occasions, with the Autumn meeting being the AGM.

• Minutes will be taken of all meetings, copies of which will be circulated to members along with any other relevant information.

• Extraordinary meetings may be called at the request of 3 Scheme members.

Attendance

• Attendance at meetings is vital to the successful operation of the Scheme.

• Apologies must be sent by any member unable to attend a meeting or to send a representative.

• Three consecutive failures to attend a meeting is likely to result in a warning that further failure to attend may result in revocation of membership. A decision to revoke a membership will be taken by vote at the first available meeting thereafter.

Subscriptions

• Subscriptions will be payable annually at a rate set at the Annual General Meeting

Disciplinary Action

• Any member knowingly contravening a provision of the Scheme or acting in a manner which is detrimental to the Scheme may be expelled, subject to a majority decision by the remaining Scheme members.

• In the event of any such disciplinary action the member concerned shall have 14 days in which to lodge an appeal. Any member excluded will be suspended pending the hearing of any appeal.

Exclusion Scheme

• Any person "excluded" under the provisions of the Scheme shall be barred from entering the premises of any Pubwatch Scheme member during the normal opening hours of that premise.

• The Scheme recognises the unique position of proprietary and members clubs which traditionally have their own constitution and rules and accepts that with respect to the exclusion scheme the club’s rules take precedence.

• Any member or their representative may at any meeting nominate any individual whom that member believes fails to meet the standards expected of them in that they are responsible for any of the following criteria, in or adjacent to that members premises.

Criteria for exclusion

• An act of violence to any person

• Any threat of violence or act of intimidation towards any licensee of or staff member.

• Damage or threat of damage to property belonging to the licensee or staff.

• Any act of vandalism or anti-social behaviour.

• Any use, possession or distribution of illegal drugs.

• Theft of property belonging to the licensee or staff.

• Possession of any weapon.

• Any act of racism.

• Purchasing of alcohol for a person the subject of an exclusion

• Membership of, or close association with any criminal gang or group, or any other person already excluded under the provisions of the Scheme.

Note: These criteria are not exhaustive and account will be taken of any behaviour which in the opinion of the members demonstrates that the individual in question has ceased to be an asset to members businesses.

See the ‘POLICY WITH RESPECT TO EXCLUDED PERSONS’ for further details and guidance as to exclusion periods.

Nomination for Exclusion

• The Nominee or other person acting on their behalf shall outline the circumstances of the incident and a decision to exclude or otherwise will be taken on the basis of a simple majority of those members present.

• In appropriate cases the identity of the Nominee may be withheld.

• Similarly the identity of the individual nominated for exclusion may be withheld until a vote has been taken.

• When a person is excluded they will be informed in writing that they have been excluded, the period for which they are excluded, their right of appeal and the consequences of any breach of the ban.

• Alternatively a warning letter may be sent if members feel that this is more appropriate in relation to the incident brought to their attention.

Appeals

• Individuals the subject of an exclusion will be given an opportunity to appeal, in writing, against the decision.

• The appeal will be considered at the earliest opportunity and a vote on that persons continued exclusion taken (Secret ballot). A two-thirds majority of members present is required to remove a name.

Note

Members are reminded that they are entitled to exclude any person they wish from their own premises whether or not that person is excluded under the provisions of the Scheme.