DRUNKEN yobs caught causing havoc in a town centre will have their photographs distributed around pubs and clubs, it was revealed today.

The Burnley Against Night-time Disorder (BAND) scheme will take effect from this Friday and anyone who commits a serious violent offence, such as assault, or is involved in a larger fight where people are injured will be barred from all the pubs taking part in the scheme. People caught supplying or possessing drugs on licensed premises will also be barred.

It follows a huge rise in drink-related incidents in the town centre over the last two years.

Between November 1999 and November 2000, 992 incidents, such as fights, domestic fights, drunk and disorderly, damage to buildings and people in possession of drugs, were recorded in the town centre during the weekends.

Between 1998 and 1999 292 violent crimes were committed, including assault, wounding with bottles and knives, public disorder and indecent assault, and 231 people were arrested.

Each of the premises involved with BAND will display stickers, posters and banners publicising the scheme and staff will wear special T-shirts and badges. Sergeant Jon Bullas said the scheme, a partnership between the police, licensees, Burnley Council, town centre management, was aimed at reducing the amount of serious offences on a Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights in the town centre.

He said: "The pub watch is all about communication and licensees talking to each other and spreading information about people committing offences, either if they have been thrown out of a pub or stopped after committing an offence. That is the basic principle of this.

"If someone commits an offence we are looking at banning them from all the pubs involved, not just one.

"If someone is charged their photographs will be sent to all licensees. CCTV will also get the photographs and as soon as they see one of the excluded people they will let licensees know on the community radio."

It is hoped BAND will tackle these problems to make a night out in Burnley more enjoyable.

A committee of all the parties involved in BAND will sit every first Thursday in the month to decide which people should be banned and to discuss any problems with the scheme.

Interim bans will also be issued to cover the period from when a person commits an offence to the date of the next meeting.

Picture: Sgt Jon Bullas and town centre manager Lisa Durkin with pub and club representatives