A SCHEME to ban unruly drinkers from pubs in Malvern and Upton will get under way next month.

Licensees from the two towns will meet at Malvern Police Station on November 12.

Once they have pledged to abide by the Data Protection Act, they will be officially permitted to circulate pictures of violent and anti-social drinkers, who will then find themselves unable to get into any of the pubs in the scheme.

Originally, the scheme was only to cover Malvern, as new beat manager for Malvern Link, Dilip Sarkar, had already set up a similar, less formal, version in Upton during his time as beat manager there.

But at a recent meeting Stuart McEwan, of Ye Olde Anchor Inn, in Upton, said he would like to sign up formally, alongside the other members of Upton's Pubwatch scheme.

"We were having problems a couple of years ago and we got together and banned the ringleaders, which stopped it," he explained.

"But at the moment we are not allowed to keep pictures of the people who are banned, we have to go up to the police station to see them.

"When we have signed up to the Data Protection Act we will be able to keep pictures of them."

PC Sarkar said he expects nearly all the pubs in Malvern to sign up to the scheme.

"I'm expecting somewhere between 35 and 40 licensees at the meeting," he said.

"I think there have only been three Malvern licensees who have failed to respond to my invitation to take part in the scheme and they are all very welcome to turn up on the day.

"However, if they fail to respond at all, then when their licence comes up for renewal they will have to explain to the magistrates why they didn't bother. I think that's only fair.

"At this time, we are not going for any exclusion orders but the scheme will be in place from November 12," he warned.

More information on the scheme is available on 01905 723888.