Safety impetus for Shrewsbury’s night time economy

From this month, August 2016, Shrewsbury Pubwatch which includes 43 licensed premises in the town centre, is to be administered by Shrewsbury BID. James Hitchin, owner of The Albert Lounge Bar on Smithfield Road, has been appointed chair of Shrewsbury Pubwatch and is looking to work more closely with the Shrewsbury Town Centre Residents’ Association to tackle issues.

“The Pubwatch group has been strengthened with improved links with residents. We have a real ‘all for one and one for all’ approach, working with the local community and partners to share intelligence and good practice. Businesses here are proud of their town and its reputation and support the work being carried out to market and promote the town’s offer for residents and visitors.” said James Hitchin. 

Mike Evans, secretary of the Shrewsbury Residents’ Association commented: “This is a great step forward with residents being integral to the Shrewsbury Pubwatch group and ensuring our voice is heard in collaboration with the retail and leisure offer here in Shrewsbury.”

Pubwatch members meet on a regular basis to share intelligence and ideas and also to operate a banning scheme whereby any serious offence in a licensed premise results in a ban not just from one but from all member premises.

“Next month will see the launch of DISC, a new digital platform for business crime reduction which we are piloting through Pubwatch to further enable the sharing of intelligence to protect the night time economy of Shrewsbury.” James Hitchin added.

Pubwatch is also working to promote a free ‘try before you buy’ digital radio offer as part of their existing Radio Link scheme. Radio Link connects day time retail premises and the night time economy with the Police and the CCTV control room, providing a platform for members to communicate local issues and collectively exclude offenders.

Pubwatch is supported by a range of partners including West Mercia Police, Shropshire Council, Shrewsbury Town Council and representatives of the town centre business community, the same team who championed the successful Purple Flag accreditation, a national standard for evening and night time economies.

Inspector Hancox from West Mercia Police commented: “These initiatives provides invaluable support in helping safeguard and improve the night time experience for everyone within the town centre.”

For more information on Shrewsbury Pubwatch and the Radio Link Scheme contact Aleks Vladimirov at Shrewsbury BID on 01743 358625 or email [email protected]