Police and licensees in Eccleshill are toasting the success of a new partnership tackling troublemakers.

More than 60 pubs and clubs have signed up to the Licensees of Eccleshill District (LED) since its launch 12 months ago.

The group aims to reduce violence, disorder and under- age drinking by issuing pub passes for over-18s and banning troublemakers from licensed premises.

Other members of the partnership include local police crime prevention officers and licensing magistrates.

In its first year the scheme has issued 37 pub passes, slapped bans on 19 people and sent out 13 written warnings.

New LED chairman for the year 2000 is Jo Shorten, licensee of the Ring O' Bells, Harrogate Road, Eccleshill.

She said: "A list of people banned by members of LED is put up in the bar for members of the public to see, and photographs are circulated among licensees so we can enforce blanket bans.

"It isn't compulsory to sign up to the scheme, but it is certainly in the best interests of the pub or club.

"Incidents of violence in or around the premises keep customers away and could end with their license being revoked."

PC Chris Rogers-Thomas, of Eccleshill Police, says the scheme is succeeding in deterring troublemakers.

The group meets once a month to discuss any problems. Private hire vehicles who tout for business by sounding their car horns outside pubs and clubs are a common gripe.

Police are now planning to mount a night-time patrol to catch the culprits.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.