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Home Office

Answer

Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the (a) pub watch and (b) shop watch scheme in Workington; and what measures he plans to take to strengthen each scheme. [220453] Ms Blears: [holding answer 7 March 2005]: Examples of partnership working, such as the pub and shop watch schemes in Workington, can contribute significantly to reducing levels of retail crime as well as combating alcohol-related violence and disorder. The Government are working with the British Retail Consortium to increase the number and effectiveness of such partnerships, and has provided £899,000 to the Action against Business Crime (AABC) group to form a national association and set up 100 new business crime partnerships. The North West regional manager for AABC has identified Workington as a strong scheme and a priority area for development. AABC are meeting with the Workington Town Centre Manager, alongside those from neighbouring towns, to encourage and assist the towns to achieve the Safer Business Award which will help identify Workington as a safer town centre and a successful, well run partnership. Pub watches, like the one in Workington, can particularly help to keep troublemakers from pubs and clubs as well as providing early warning to bar staff, door staff and the police of instances of possible disorder. The Government welcome the contribution that pub watches can make to tackling alcohol-related violence and disorder.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

432 c59W; 220453

Session

2004-05

Subjects

Crime prevention Business Public houses Shops Retail trade Workington

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk