Taken from the East Cork Journal, 10/02/10

THREE separate Pub Watch schemes, covering Midleton, Carrigtwohill and Cloyne and surrounding area were launched at the Midleton Park Hotel on Thursday last, February 4th, with the aim of curbing incidents of public order and crime, and to enable a quick response from both the community of vintners and Gardai when incidents occur in pubs.

The scheme works in a pyramid-fashion with each pub linked to two others. If an alert is raised at one pub, they will first notify the Gardai, and then notify their other two 'linked 1 pubs. Each pub contacted is responsible for contacting a further two, thus creating a domino effect pub watch, with information being shared rapidly between vintners.

The idea to establish Pub Watch in these areas came about in November 2009, when thirty one publicans from Midleton and the surrounding areas partook in Drug and Alcohol Awareness Training which was deliveredby the Health Promotion Dept. HSE South. The Club Co Cork Drug & Alcohol Awareness Training Programme is funded by the Southern Regional Drugs Task Force and was developed by the Health Promotion Dept in partnership with An Garda Siochana and publicans. Aoife Ni Chonchuir, Health Promotion Officer, HSE South who co-ordinates the course and delivers a session on drug and alcohol awareness stated, "This course focuses on real issues which arise in pubs and clubs, and looks at identifying practical solutions to dealing with such issues. The publicans of Midleton and surrounding area wished to establish pub watch and as a result local Gardaf, namely Sgt. Claire Kenneally, Superintendent Flor Horan, representation from Health Promotion Dept, local publicans and myself came together to establish three separate schemes".

Three co-ordinators for each of the three areas were appointed: * Tara McCarthy, Secretary, VFI and Co-owner Mill Wheel Bar in Midleton is co-ordinating the scheme for Midleton * Eamonn Harty of Harty's Bar and Restaurant is co-ordinating the scheme for Cloyne and the surrounding area

* Leo Spratt of Jack Spratts Bar is co-ordinating the scheme in Carrigtwohill. Superintendent Flor Horan, who attended the launch, stated, "Pub watch is a community based crime prevention scheme. It also provides better communication between licensees and Gardai and provides a forum for the discussion and solution of problems relating to violence on licensed premises. It is great that the licensees have initiated this group themselves and clearly see that everyone can benefit from working together to tackle crime, disorder and anti-social behavior. The key objective of the Scheme is to reduce alcohol related crime and anti-social behavior. The Scheme is fully supported by the Gardai in Midleton and we look forward to working closely with the licensees through this Scheme".

All publicans from these areas are in support of the scheme which, in the event of public order incidents or criminal activity taking place in their respective venues, each publican has agreed to contact Midleton Gardai and the Co-ordinator of the Scheme and all other venues in the scheme, through an agreed process.

Should breaches of publicorder take place in venues, this scheme ensures that all premises will be notified quickly. Tara McCarthy, Co-ordinator of Pub Watch, Midleton stated, "This scheme brings the community of vintners together giving them a common mission, no vintner wants trouble in their venue". Chairperson East Cork VFI, Tom Clere stated; "It's of utmost importance that all vintners buy into the scheme in order for it to work. We are very optimistic about it".