ROGUES galleries of rowdy revellers are being installed in pubs in Poole and Bournemouth to help them keep barred yobs out.

Poole police officers are giving town centre pubs a pack containing mug-shots of six men and two women who have been banned from Pub Watch-subscribing bars in the town.

And Bournemouth's Town Watch - which includes some of its biggest pubs and clubs - is preparing to post CCTV photos of barred drinkers on a private website for Town Watch members.

PC Chris Ingram is from Poole Safe, the police team dedicated to reducing alcohol-related violent crime and disorder, which is compiling the photo packs for Poole.

"They will include pictures of people who have been involved in drug dealing, violence or other problems," he said.

"The ladies on the list were barred for shoving a dead pigeon though a pub letterbox."

His colleague, PC Ian Watkin, said the packs help landlords spot troublemakers.

"One of the town centre licensees we gave the pack to looked at it and identified four people out of the eight that drink in his pub," he said.

"As a result of getting the photos, he's going to make sure they don't drink there again."

The officers added that the new door staff accreditation has given them extra confidence to issue the photos.

Andy Roberts, licensee of the Waters Edge, on Poole Quay, received his pack last week.

"I think it is an excellent idea," he said. "It helps us keep a safe environment in the pub and keep the idiots out.

"If all the pubs work together, we can help make Poole a safer place."

If the packs work well in the town centre, Poole Safe officers are planning to roll them out to all the pubs in the town, with different photos of local yobs that are relevant to each pub.

Because of data protection concerns, the officers will have each photo approved by a police inspector before it is sent out and will regularly check that they are not shown to anyone other than the intended staff.

In Bournemouth, members of Town Watch will decide between them whose photos should be posted on their website.

Crime reduction officer PC Ian Curtis said Town Watch will use pictures taken from CCTV and, if the yobs are convicted of an offence, the police can also supply photos.

"Town Watch can bar the people, usually for 12 months, but if it's a very serious and violent incident, they can be banned for life," he said.

"Also, if anyone is arrested for an alcohol-related offence, Bournemouth police are able to issue them a temporary banning notice on behalf of Town Watch."

The photos have not yet been compiled, but PC Curtis said it should happen in the next few weeks.

Steve Hudson, manager of Elements nightclub and chairman of Town Watch, said: "Anything that means we can share data with each other is a great idea."

First published: Sept 24