LICENSEES in Lydney and the surrounding area are teaming up with the police to stamp out rowdy behaviour with the launch of a new 'Pubwatch' scheme.
Some 17 landlords in Lydney, Aylburton and Alvington have signed up for the initiative, which is being co-ordinated by Pcs Carl Bourne and Richard Davis.
The scheme, officially launched last Friday, will see licensees and police meet every month to discuss problems they have had with customers involved in bad behaviour, violence, drug abuse, bad language or drunken disorder.
A decision may then be made to ban that customer from every business covered by the scheme for a period of 12 months.
The names of people banned will be displayed alongside the 'Pubwatch' membership sign and the list of premises involved.
Pc Bourne said: "There was a 'Pubwatch' scheme in Lydney up until around two and a half years ago but it lost its momentum and faded out.
"The success of schemes in places like Coleford, Stroud and Gloucester convinced us we should start a fresh scheme in Lydney and the great support we have had for the idea from the licensees in and around the town assures us our scheme will be just as successful."
Pc Davis said the scheme would be up and running in time for Christmas and anyone involved in anti social behaviour could face a ban over the holiday period and beyond.
"A ban under 'Pubwatch' can seriously damage your social life so we would urge people to think very carefully about their behaviour next time they have a night out in the town," he said.
One of those to sign up to the scheme is Brigitte Evered-Hall, licensee of King's Bar in Hill Street, Lydney.
She said: "I think it is a brilliant idea and hope it will be very successful.
"It is about time the licensees in Lydney pulled together to stop trouble within our pubs and the excellent turn out at our first meeting makes me think the scheme will work very well."