Belfast Telegraph
Tuesday, 5 May 2009
A new group representing the licensed trade in Ards is to help call time on anti-social behaviour.
The Ards Licensees Forum, made up of owners and managers in the licensed trade, will be working with Ards Borough Council and the PSNI to promote the responsible sale of alcohol to help address concerns about crime and anti-social behaviour fuelled by alcohol.
The establishment of the new forum followed an information seminar organised by the council and the police to discuss issues ranging from doorman registration schemes to the police’s new test purchasing powers.
PSNI Area Commander for Ards, Chief Inspector Philip Knox, said: “The new Licensed Trade Forum will allow us to learn from each other’s experiences as well as enabling problem solving and implementation of innovative solutions that tackle the outcomes of excessive alcohol consumption.�
The forum comes at a time when Ards Borough Council has made cash available for community safety projects which will divert young people from anti-social behaviour in the borough.
