Licensing Officer commended for working with National Pubwatch

A Licensing Officer covering Amber Valley, North East and Bolsover has been commended for his work keeping the area’s safe.

A Licensing Officer covering Amber Valley, North East and Bolsover has been commended for his work keeping the area’s safe.

PC Ady Clarke was handed the National Pubwatch Star Award for his work helping bring together disparate schemes in the boroughs.

In Amber Valley PC Clarke has helped four schemes from Alfreton, Ripley, Heanor, and Belper – delivering better communication between the licensed premises and an enhanced response to issues such as anti-social behaviour and disorder with the Amber Valley wide Pubwatch bans.

In North East and Bolsover he has worked closely with the Clay Cross group, and assisted with setting up the new Bolsover scheme which have since started implementing bans.

Having taken up his role just 18 months ago, PC Clarke impressed publicans and license holders with his enthusiasm and dedication to the role.

PC Clarke said: “It was such a nice surprise to receive the award and I would like to thank all the co-ordinators and members for all their hard work in making the Pubwatch groups successful.

“I really enjoy the Licensing role and working together to promote the licensing objectives, to ensure a safe environment for their customers and staff.”

Mark Worthington, National Pubwatch Committee member and East Midlands regional representative said: “I met Ady when he was looking to form the new Amber Valley Pubwatch scheme, where four smaller Pubwatches merged to form the new combined scheme, thereby presenting a united front against unruly customers across the district and providing a stable forum for sharing best practice.

“I was really impressed with his enthusiasm for Pubwatch and the relationship he had developed with the licensees. I formed the impression they trusted him and the relationship between them was a good positive one.

“Ady has contacted me on a number of occasions to seek best practice to cascade to the Pubwatches, showing a willingness to learn and support his local schemes.

“Ady is well deserving of this award, and I congratulate him on his achievements thus far and hope he continues in the same vein for the future.”

Sergeant Adam Harrison, who leads the licensing team in the north of the county, said:

“PC Clarke has held the position of Licensing Officer for Derbyshire Constabulary over the last 18 months.

“In that time, he has worked hard to develop a crime prevention approach to licensing matters across Amber Valley, North East and Bolsover.

“A large part of his work has been the enhancement of Pubwatch schemes. As a key stakeholder in Pubwatch, PC Clarke demonstrates commitment, resilience and a passion for the schemes to succeed.

“PC Clarke possesses the personal strength of building solid working relationships with members and partners and his input within the schemes is highly respected and valued.

“PC Clarke’s work with coordinators has recently resulted in the successful creation of ‘Amber Valley’ Pubwatch, which brings together groups from several separate schemes. They now benefit from sharing good practice, implementation of consistent and effective crime prevention measures and increase information sharing."

Les Hince, chair of the Bolsover Pubwatch said: “Ady has been a fantastic help to me and the Pubwatch. I have run Pubwatches in the past and it has taken me three years to get to where I am now, but with Ady’s help and support it has only taken one year.

“He maintains regular contact with me and the membership and if there has been an incident, he always contacts us in a timely fashion to ensure that everyone is OK and take the incident further if necessary.

“He is helping us source funding from the council regrading initial payment for us to join Schemelink which will make administration of the Pubwatch much more effective.

“Thank you Ady you really deserve this award.”

Dean Munday, chair of the Amber Valley Pubwatch scheme said: “Ady has played a pivotal role in bringing together four local schemes to form the Amber Valley Pubwatch.

“This now presents a united front to unruly and antisocial behaviour, and Ady did a fantastic job bringing this all together. His support is really appreciated and he is very worthy of this award.”