Burnley yobs to face ban from all pubs in area (From This Is Lancashire)

Burnley yobs to face ban from all pubs in area

12:00pm Friday 19th October 2012 in News By Chris Adams

TROUBLEMAKERS in Harle Syke, Burnley, have warned to behave or face being banned from every pub in the area.

Five people have already been barred in the crackdown this year.

The Harle Syke Against Rowdy Behaviour (HARD) campaign has been stepped up after a rise in incidents in the last two months.

Five premises in the area — The Sun Inn, Hare and Hounds, The Craven Heifer, The Commercial Inn and Briercliffe Social Club — have signed-up to the scheme, which promotes safe and responsible drinking.

Offences in the past have ranged from criminal damage, drug-dealing and assault resulting in six-to-12 month bans.

Neighbourhood PCSO Rachel Lonsdale explained that being banned from one pub meant being banned from all of them She said: “Briercliffe is a small village and to be banned from going into local pubs can be extremely inconvenient.

“We want to make sure our local pubs remain a friendly and welcoming environment and we will continue to support landlords in targeting the minority of disruptive customers.

“HARD is a tried and tested scheme which has helped to reduce alcohol-related crime in the areas pubs and clubs.

“The bans have a real impact on preventing further incidents disorder and crime. They make it clear that the police and licensees will not tolerate such behaviour.”

Brian Parker, who runs The Commercial Inn and The Craven Heifer, said: “There is a great social life in the village and we want to keep trouble out.

“Drug-dealing is something especially which does creep in that we will not tolerate.

“Pubs want more people in, not thugs.”

Gordon Leighton, secretary of Briercliffe Social Club, added: “We hardly have any problems but this scheme will only work if the whole community sticks together.

“We meet up every month to swap notes and keep up-to-date with things.”