Left to right Nigel Connor (JD Wetherspoon) Mark Judd (Bedsafe), Lord Kennedy & Steve Baker Chair National Pubwatch

Bedsafe, the Bedford pubwatch, has been awarded the top accolade with the National Pubwatch Award 2021.

The National Pubwatch Awards was established to encourage and recognise the work of local Pubwatch schemes throughout the United Kingdom, and their efforts to provide safe drinking environments for customers and staff.

The annual award is judged by members of the National Pubwatch Committee. This year the judges commended the social responsibility of the Bedsafe scheme, whose members work closely with the local police and council to target and reduce alcohol related disorder in the town.

The Pubwatch has a very active engagement with the team at the local Business Improvement District (BID) and has had several members, including the current chairman who sits on its committee. With its support the scheme has implemented a number of good practice initiatives to improve its communication processes and the safety of customers and staff.

For example, through BID funding, door staff are employed to deal specifically with street drinkers and beggars.

In particular, the judges highlighted the Pubwatch schemes support for those working in the wider night time economy, who have suffered assault and harassment from people who are identified as having been drinking in town centre venues.

This has resulted in six people being banned for assaulting police officers, three for assaulting door staff and one for assaulting a taxi driver.

Also highlighted was its initiative to provide first aid training to bar staff and locate first aid kits in various venues within the town centre. As a result of the first aid training, evidence has been provided to suggest that at least one life has been saved by a member of bar staff who acted quickly to perform the Heimlich Manoeuvre on a customer choking on his food.

Mark Judd, chairman of the Bedsafe Pubwatch Scheme, said the scheme has been well supported and has been very positively received by the community. He said its success was down to the fact that everyone has bought into the scheme and strong partnership working.

On receiving the National Pubwatch Award 2021 he added:  “It reinforces that what we have been doing is the right thing.  I think it will make people realise that we are leading the way, showing people how it can be done and how Pubwatch can positively protect the community.”

The nomination was supported by the Bedfordshire Police Chief Constable, the Bedfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner and the Chief Executive of the East of England Ambulance Trust.

Chief Constable Gary Forsyth said: “This is a brilliant scheme which has proven to be highly effective in protecting not just our own officers but importantly night time economy workers across the whole spectrum; from door staff to taxi drivers amongst many others. I commend all participants for their involvement”.

BedfordBID are very proud to support Bedsafe!

More info: https://www.nationalpubwatch.org.uk/pubwatch-awards/