Clitheroe publicans, the police, Ribble Valley Borough Council and County Councillor Sue Hind have got together to devise a strategy to deal with the increasing problems caused by anti-social behaviour in Clitheroe Town Centre at weekends.

Laura Smithies the licensee of the Brown Cow initiated the process. She stated her concerns, “we are very worried about the town and how dangerous it seems to have become during the weekends. Lots of drugs and young groups coming up, we have had glassing and stabbings.”

Two well-supported meetings have been held at the Rose & Crown; the first attended by Chief Inspectors Andy Ainsworth and Marie Jackson, together with WPC Cath Towler. They outlined their plans for a new model of Pub Watch and quicker responses to anti-social behaviour incidents.

At the second meeting Dilys Day from RVBC relaunched the Clitheroe Business Watch scheme which offers every publican a digital handset with a feature panic button linked directly to the CCTV office and the police. Inspector Andy Ainsworth again attended, this time with Police Sergeant Stuart Banks and they were pleased with the response to the initiatives taken by all the agencies. RVBC’s Enforcement Officer Jason Middleton distributed leaflets published by the British Beer and Pub Association giving advice for licensees showing European Championship football matches.

Councillor Hind commented “The intention of these meetings is to make Clitheroe a safer and better place for us all to enjoy at the weekends. This is the kind of cooperation between the police, publicans and local councils that is needed to help make this happen.”

All agreed to meet again in a month’s time to monitor the success of the new strategy for Clitheroe’s night-time economy in light of the end of lockdown.