Pubwatch scheme proposed to help make nights out safer in Sheffield city centre
The fate of the pub watch will be decided next month
A new Pubwatch scheme is being proposed for Sheffield city centre to help pubs and bars work together to prevent crime, anti-social behaviour and violence on nights out.
Pubwatch is a partnership between licensed venues, which allows owners and operators to share information and work together to improve safety across the night-time economy.
The initiative was initially focused on West Street, Carver Street and Devonshire Street but organisers are now looking to involve licensed premises across the city centre.
The interim coordinator, Emma, said several venues had already expressed an interest in joining the scheme.
Representatives from South Yorkshire Police and Sheffield City Council's CCTV team attended a meeting in September to explain what support was available to venues.
The meeting next month will decide whether the scheme goes ahead.
Pubwatch schemes can allow participating venues to agree on shared approaches to dealing with troublemakers, including banning individuals from member premises.
They also provide a way for businesses to share advice on security, staff safety and training.
Emma said: “It's about trying to keep a chain of information. Businesses have been sharing information with each other about training and other help available to them.
“That, in itself, has already had a positive impact.”
She said the initiative was not expected to prevent every incident but could help make Sheffield a safer place to enjoy a night out.
“We're not suggesting that this is going to solve every problem or prevent every incident, but I think it's a way of trying to make a little bit of difference and make it somewhere that people do want to visit and know that they'll be safe,” said Emma.
The next meeting is scheduled for November 12, when licensed premises will decide whether to formally establish the scheme and appoint a committee to run it.
If approved, members will decide how the scheme operates and what issues it should focus on. The interim coordinator will then step away from the initiative.
She said: “Ultimately, we are just trying to create something practical and genuinely useful.”
Licensed premises interested in joining or finding out more can contact the interim coordinator at [email protected].