About

What is National Pubwatch?

National Pubwatch is a small but active voluntary organisation which was set up to support existing Pubwatch schemes and encourage the creation of new Pubwatch schemes. Its key aim is to help achieve a safe, secure and responsibly led social drinking environment in all licensed premises throughout the UK and thereby reduce alcohol-related crime. Established in 1997.

Our founders. Left to right Malcolm Eidmans QPM, Bill Stone, Raoul DeVaux OBE

What does it do?

We are not a membership organisation but we maintain a database of Watches and people involved in Pubwatch schemes throughout the UK. We are registered with the Data Commissioner. Our Pubwatch Locator mapping tool is the latest initiative to signpost potential Pubwatch members and other stakeholders to a local Pubwatch scheme operating in their area. We provide advice and guidance on a range of Pubwatch issues through a number of different channels. Our Good Practice Guide is now widely referred to by the licensed trade and statutory authorities and is seen as a trusted source of reference for many of the issues affecting Pubwatch schemes. As you would expect from a national scheme we provide information and advice in a range of different ways. Our website is obviously an important gateway to our services but we also publish a bi-monthly E.Newsletter and most importantly we have a number of experienced volunteer Regional Representatives who are willing to give personal support. We can also help local schemes by giving access to start up materials; either providing small quantities of free window stickers and posters or allowing access to our site so that you can download materials.

 

The NPW annual conference is now one of our key events of the year and we bring together Pubwatch members, police and other stakeholders to discuss issues affecting the Pubwatch movement and to showcase best practice. We also feel that one of our roles is to identify and celebrate the efforts of individuals and Pubwatch schemes that have provided an outstanding contribution to Pubwatch in their local area. Details of current NPW awards and recipients can be seen on this website.

 

We are not a trade body and we do not represent the pub and hospitality industry on commercial issues. However we will raise issues with bodies such as the Home Office, NPCC and others or respond to public consultations where we feel that legislation or operational practices might damage partnership working and disrupt our aim of creating safer drinking environments. Members of the Committee have represented Pubwatch in many seminars and meetings on Licensing reform and more recently the issue of Social Responsibility and the Late Night Levy.

 

We are funded entirely through the generous sponsorship we receive from the pub and hospitality sector. A list of our current commercial partners can be seen on this website.

 

What has it done?

  • Created the first national database of watches in the UK. We continue to develop the way we signpost stakeholders to local schemes. See our ‘Pubwatch Locator’ mapping tool on website. Currently over 800 schemes have registered with us.
  • Provided a national voice for the concerns and problems facing schemes that are trying to prevent crime and violence in and around licensed premises. Our 2009 Court Not Caution campaign led to official recognition from the Sentencing Council that an assault on bar staff was an aggravating feature.
  • Assisted in the creation of over 600 new watch schemes (this figure continues to rise although we no longer record how many)
  • Provided advice support and assistance to existing schemes across the country. We continue to build on our network of volunteer Regional Representatives
  • Produced our first Good Practice Guide in April 1999. The guide has undergone several revisions over the years. The last such revision in 2014 with the assistance of Steve Walsh QC
  • Produced newsletters with advice and good practice information. Our first bi-monthly e.newsletter was issued in June 2012
  • Encouraged and supported several Pub companies to adopt positive policies towards Pubwatch and their estate.
  • Opened links with industry bodies and the Home Office so that we are regularly consulted on new legislation and codes of practice e.g. Pubwatch was recognised as a best practice scheme in relation to the Late Night Levy
  • Obtained parliamentary support for Pubwatch. Our Pubwatch Scheme Award has previously been presented at the All Parliamentary Beer Group Awards Dinner. Since 2014 the Awards have been presented at a prestigious parliamentary reception.
  • Produced a nationally recognised and distinctive logo for Pubwatch – registered as a trademark in April 2013. A new logo was registered as a trademark in 2020, following a re-branding exercise.
  • Produced free window stickers and posters to help local schemes reduce their start up cost.
  • Provides free good practice training material through our Good Practice Pub and YouTube films
  • Provided support for various industry initiatives on social responsibility, such as the Proof of Age Standards Scheme (PASS) and Best Bar None
  • Made all local authorities and police services in England & Wales aware of the support it can provide for watch schemes and Community Safety crime & disorder plans
  • Produced and maintains a website at www.nationalpubwatch.org.uk
  • Our first national conference for Pubwatch members was held in Clerkenwell, London, in 2003. Our nineteenth conference was held in Swindon in 2023.
  • Raised the profile of Pubwatch and the efforts of Pubwatch members. We identify both individuals and Pubwatch Schemes which make an outstanding contribution through our various awards.

The National Pubwatch Committee

Chairman: Steve Baker OBE
A former Police Inspector with Thames Valley Police who has considerable experience of licensing and Pubwatch issues.

Secretary: Paul Wotton
Former Police Inspector with Metropolitan Police and latterly a consultant on drug related issues and training.

Treasurer: Trevor Pepper 
Former City Centre Manager in Coventry, now working as the CCTV Manager in the Community Safety Team at Stratford-on-Avon District Council.

Members

Katie Doyle – Senior Solicitor JD Wetherspoon.

Mark Worthington – former Licensing and Nightsafe Sergeant from Northamptonshire Police now an independent licensing consultant and trainer.

Joe Murray QPM – former Community Safety inspector with Cumbria Police with considerable experience of Pubwatch issues.

Andrew Green – Policy Manager (Pub Operations) British Beer & Pub Association.

Paul Neades – former licensee with over 25 years in the pub trade. He is now a consultant, specialising in training, licensing compliance and food safety.

David Lucas – Licensing Solicitor. Committee member of Nottingham Pubwatch. He is also a board member of Institute of Licensing and Best Bar None.

Michelle Perrett – Freelance Journalist. She has many years experience of reporting on the Pub and Hospitality trade.

 

Honorary President

Rt Hon. the Lord Kennedy of Southwark – Life Peer and Labour member of the All Party Parliamentary Beer Group

 

If you need to contact the NPW Committee our general contact details are shown below. Please be aware that as a voluntary organisation we do not have any full time staff so we may not reply to your query immediately. For support or guidance from any of our volunteer Regional Representatives please visit the contacts page.
By post National Pubwatch, PO Box 76958, London, N21 9FJ.